A bill passed the Florida House yesterday that may prevent the feeding tube withdrawal and ultimate death of disabled Terri Schiavo, scheduled for 1 p.m. today by a Florida judge.
Lawmakers passed legislation requiring a written directive from an incapacitated person before family and physicians can deny them food and water. The Florida Senate is still debating mirror legislation that is less sweeping – it would deny the removal of food and hydration if family members disagree on the measure, unless there is a pre-existing written directive from the disabled person.
Republican Rep. Kevin Ambler said, “This provides a safety net where the government stands up for the vulnerable who don't otherwise have a voice,” according to a mercurynews.com report.
Florida Governor Jeb Bush appealed to lawmakers to pass legislation to prevent Terri’s demise, similar to when Representatives passed Terri’s law in 2003, mandating that Terri’s feeding tube be re-inserted after 6 days of starvation. “We have a responsibility to act, to deal with this issue,” the Governor stated. “It breaks my heart we're in a situation where it's possible this woman could starve to death.”
Federal Congress, meanwhile, passed a law late Wednesday that would mandate that those facing death like Terri have recourse to appeal to the federal courts. Senate Democrats blocked the law Thursday, however. Even Republican Senate leader Bill Frist said the legislation was not likely to be championed by Republican Senators, proposing a separate measure.
“If we don't act or if somebody does not act, a living person who has a level of consciousness, who is self-breathing will be starved to death here in the next two weeks,” he said. Frist said he hopes the new measure will be approved before Easter recess beginning Friday.
Terri’s parents, Robert and Mary Schindler, appealed to the US Supreme Court yesterday, after being denied a stay by a Florida appeals court Wednesday.
In a release yesterday, the Population Research Institute is encouraging concerned Americans to contact Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R.-Tenn.) and their state’s two senators and “tell them you want the Senate to act today on a bill that could save Terri Schiavo's life”. “The U.S. House has passed the bill and President Bush is sure to sign it, so the U.S. Senate is the last obstacle,” the release said. “Terri is scheduled to be starved and dehydrated to death tomorrow [Friday] at 1:00 pm, so there is no time to lose.”
“The bill is a little different from the one that Congress was previously considering … This new bill is called the Protection of Incapacitated Persons Act of 2005, and its bill number is HR 1332,” the PRI release continued. PRI instructs,“Politely tell the offices of Sen. Frist and your home state senators something like, “I'm a pro-life American, and I expect the U.S. Senate to vote on this bill before the process of Terri Schiavo's execution begins.”
Sen. Frist's phone number is 202-224-3344. Other senators' numbers can be found here or by calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard, 202-225-3121.
(This update courtesy of LifeSiteNews.com.)
