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Terri
Schiavo
December
3,
1963
-
March
31,
2005
Gone
but
Not
Forgotten
To
those
who
torment
the
helpless!
Mathew 25:40-41
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
December
3,
1963
Theresa
(Terri)
Marie
Schiavo,
nee
Schindler,
is
born.
Novermber
1984
Terri
and
Michael
Schiavo
are
married.
February
25,
1990
Terri
Schiavo
suffers
cardiac
arrest,
apparently
caused
by
a
potassium
imbalance
and
leading
to
brain
damage
due
to
lack
of
oxygen.
She
was
taken
to
the
Humana
Northside
Hospital
and
was
later
given
a
percutaneous
endoscopic
gastrostomy
(PEG)
to
provide
nutrition
and
hydration.
Police
report
May
12,
1990
Terri
Schiavo
is
discharged
from
the
hospital
and
taken
to
the
College
Park
skilled
care
and
rehabilitation
facility.
June
18,
1990
Court
appoints
Michael
Schiavo
as
guardian;
Terri
Schiavo’s
parents
do
not
object.
June
30,
1990
Terri
Schiavo
is
transferred
to
Bayfront
Hospital
for
further
rehabilitation
efforts.
September
1990
Terri
Schiavo’s
family
brings
her
home,
but
three
weeks
later
they
return
her
to
the
College
Park
facility
because
the
family
is
“overwhelmed
by
Terri’s
care
needs.”
November
1990
Michael
Schiavo
takes
Terri
Schiavo
to
California
for
experimental
“brain
stimulator”
treatment,
an
experimental
“thalamic
stimulator
implant”
in
her
brain.
January
1991
The
Schiavos
return
to
Florida;
Terri
Schiavo
is
moved
to
the
Mediplex
Rehabilitation
Center
in
Brandon
where
she
receives
24-hour
care.
July
19,
1991
Terri
Schiavo
is
transferred
to
Sable
Palms
skilled
care
facility
where
she
receives
continuing
neurological
testing,
and
regular
and
aggressive
speech/occupational
therapy
through
1994.
May
1992
Terri
Schiavo’s
parents,
Robert
and
Mary
Schindler,
and
Michael
Schiavo
stop
living
together.
August
1992
Terri
Schiavo
is
awarded
$250,000
in
an
out-of-court
medical
malpractice
settlement
with
one
of
her
physicians.
November
1992
The
jury
in
the
medical
malpractice
trial
against
another
of
Terri’s
physicians
awards
more
than
one
million
dollars.
In
the
end,
after
attorneys’
fees
and
other
expenses,
Michael
Schiavo
received
about
$300,000
and
about
$750,000
was
put
in
a
trust
fund
specifically
for
Terri
Schiavo’s
medical
care.
February
14,
1993
Michael
Schiavo
and
the
Schindlers
have
a
falling-out
over
the
course
of
therapy
for
Terri
Schiavo;
Michael
Schiavo
claims
that
the
Schindlers
demand
that
he
share
the
malpractice
money
with
them.
July
29,
1993
Schindlers
attempt
to
remove
Michael
Schiavo
as
Terri
Schiavo’s
guardian;
the
court
later
dismisses
the
suit.
March
1,
1994
First
guardian
ad
litem,
John
H.
Pecarek,
submits
his
report.
He
states
that
Michael
Schiavo
has
acted
appropriately
and
attentively
toward
Terri
Schiavo.
May
1998
Michael
Schiavo
petitions
the
court
to
authorize
the
removal
of
Terri
Schiavo’s
PEG
tube;
the
Schindlers
oppose,
saying
that
Terri
would
want
to
remain
alive.
The
court
appoints
Richard
Pearse,
Esq.,
to
serve
as
the
second
guardian
ad
litem
for
Terri
Schiavo.
December
20,
1998
The
second
guardian
ad
litem,
Richard
Pearse,
Esq.,
issues
his
report
in
which
he
concluding
that
Terri
Schiavo
is
in
a
persistent
vegetative
state
with
no
chance
of
improvement
and
that
Michael
Schiavo’s
decision-making
may
be
influenced
by
the
potential
to
inherit
the
remainder
of
Terri
Schiavo’s
estate.
Pearse
GAL
Report
January
24,
2000
The
trial
begins;
Pinellas-Pasco
County
Circuit
Court
Judge
George
Greer
presides.
Testimony
of
Father
Gerard
Murphy
February
11,
2000
Judge
Greer
rules
that
Terri
Schiavo
would
have
chosen
to
have
the
PEG
tube
removed,
and
therefore
he
orders
it
removed,
which,
according
to
doctors,
will
cause
her
death
in
approximately
7
to
14
days.
Trial
Court
Ruling
March
2,
2000
The
Schindlers
file
a
petition
with
Judge
Greer
to
allow
“swallowing”
tests
to
be
performed
on
Terri
Schiavo
to
determine
if
she
can
consume—or
learn
to
consume—nutrients
on
her
own.
March
7,
2000
Judge
Greer
denies
the
Schindlers’
petition
to
perform
“swallowing”
tests
on
Terri
Schiavo.
March
24,
2000
Judge
Greer
grants
Michael
Schiavo’s
petition
to
limit
visitation
to
Terri
Schiavo
as
well
as
to
bar
pictures.
Judge
Greer
also
stays
his
order
until
30
days
beyond
the
final
exhaustion
of
all
appeals
by
the
Schindlers.
Greer
Stay
and
Order
Limiting
Visitation
January
24,
2001
Florida’s
Second
District
Court
of
Appeal
(2nd
DCA)
upholds
Judge
Greer’s
ruling
that
permits
the
removal
of
Terri
Schiavo’s
PEG
tube.
In
re
Schiavo,
780
So.
2d
176
(2nd
DCA
2001),
rehearing
denied
(Feb.
22,
2001),
review
denied,
789
So.
2d
348
(Fla.
2001).
(Case
No.:
SC01-559)
DCA
Ruling
February
22,
2001
The
Schindler
family’s
motion
for
an
Appellate
Court
rehearing
is
denied.
March
12,
2001
Michael
Schiavo
petitions
Judge
Greer
to
lift
his
stay,
issued
March
24,
2000,
in
order
to
permit
the
removal
of
Terri
Shiavo’s
PEG
tube.
March
29,
2001
Judge
Greer
denies
Michael
Schiavo’s
motion
to
lift
stay
issued
on
March
24,
2000;
Michael
Schiavo
can
remove
Terri’s
PEG
tube
at
1
p.m.
on
April
20.
Greer
Order
April
10,
2001
The
2nd
DCA
denies
the
Schindlers’
motion
to
extend
Judge
Greer’s
stay,
which
is
scheduled
to
expire
April
20,
2001.
4-10-01
DCA
Order
April
12,
2001
The
Schindlers
file
a
motion
requesting
that
Judge
Greer
recuse
himself.
April
12,
2001
The
Schindlers
petition
the
Florida
Supreme
Court
to
stay
the
removal
of
Terri
Schiavo’s
PEG
tube.
4-12-01
Motion
for
Stay
Part
1
4-12-01
Motion
for
Stay
Part
2
4-12-01
Court’s
Request
for
Response
from
Schiavo
April
16,
2001
Judge
Greer
denies
the
Schindlers’
motion
to
recuse
himself.
April
18,
2001
The
Florida
Supreme
Court
chooses
not
to
review
the
decision
of
the
2nd
DCA.
In
re
Schiavo,
789
So.
2d
248
(Fla.
2001).
Case
No.:
SC01-559
3-22-01
Schindler
family’s
Notice
to
Appeal
to
Supreme
Court
3-30-01
Schindlers’
Jurisdictional
Brief
Part
1
3-30-01
Schindlers’
Jurisdictional
Brief
Part
2
4-18-01
Order
Denying
Rehearing
and
Motion
for
Stay
April
20,
2001
Federal
District
Court
Judge
Richard
Lazzara
grants
the
Schindlers
a
stay
until
April
23,
2001,
to
exhaust
all
their
possible
appeals.
April
23,
2001
Justice
Anthony
M.
Kennedy
of
the
United
States
Supreme
Court
refuses
to
stay
the
case
for
a
review
by
that
Court.
April
24,
2001
By
order
of
trial
court
Judge
Greer,
and
upon
issuance
of
a
2nd
DCA
mandate,
Terri
Schiavo’s
PEG
tube
is
removed
April
26,
2001
The
Schindlers
file
an
emergency
motion
with
Judge
Greer
for
relief
from
judgment
based
upon
new
evidence,
which
includes
a
claim
that
a
former
girlfriend
of
Michael
Schiavo
will
testify
that
he
lied
about
Terri
Schiavo’s
wishes;
Judge
Greer
dismisses
the
motion
as
untimely.
Also
on
this
date,
the
Schindlers
file
a
new
civil
suit
that
claims
that
Michael
Schiavo
perjured
himself
when
he
testified
that
Terri
Schiavo
had
stated
an
aversion
to
remaining
on
life
support.
Pending
this
new
civil
trial,
Circuit
Court
Judge
Frank
Quesada
orders
Terri
Schiavo’s
PEG
tube
to
be
reinserted.
April
30,
2001
Michael
Schiavo
files
an
emergency
motion
with
the
2nd
DCA
to
allow
the
removal
of
Terri
Schiavo’s
PEG
tube.
May
9,
2001
The
2nd
DCA
announces
a
date
for
the
hearing
of
oral
arguments
regarding
Michael
Schiavo’s
motion
of
April
30,
2001.
June
25,
2001
Arguments
in
2nd
DCA
regarding
Michael
Schiavo’s
motion
of
April
30,
2001.
July
11,
2001
The
2nd
DCA
remands
the
case
back
to
Judge
Greer.
(1)
The
2nd
DCA
informs
the
Schindlers
that
they
must
address
both
their
desire
to
have
new
evidence
heard
and
their
perjury
claim
against
Michael
Schiavo
within
the
original
guardianship
proceeding;
further,
the
Schindlers
are
instructed
to
file
a
new
motion
for
relief
from
judgment
in
the
guardianship
proceeding.
(2)
The
2nd
DCA
instructs
Judge
Greer
to
weigh
the
Schinders’
new
evidence
in
making
a
new
determination
of
what
Terri
Schiavo
would
have
wanted.
(3)
The
2nd
DCA
denies
Michael
Schiavo’s
request
to
discontinue
the
PEG
tube.
In
re
Schiavo,
792
So.
2d
551
(2nd
DCA
2001).
7-11-01
DCA
Order
August
7,
2001
After
the
2nd
DCA
remands
the
case
back
to
Judge
Greer,
he
again
finds
that
Michael
Schiavo
may
remove
Terri
Schiavo’s
PEG
tube
on
August
28.
August
10,
2001
Judge
Greer
denies
the
Schindlers'
motion
(1)
to
have
their
own
doctors
examine
Terri
Schiavo,
(2)
to
remove
Michael
Schiavo
as
her
guardian,
and
(3)
to
disqualify
himself
from
the
proceedings.
August
17,
2001
Judge
Greer
delays
the
removal
of
Terri
Schiavo's
PEG
tube
until
October
9
in
order
to
allow
the
Schindlers
time
to
appeal.
October
3,
2001
The
2nd
DCA
delays
the
removal
of
the
PEG
tube
indefinitely.
October
17,
2001
The
2nd
DCA
rules
that
5
doctors
should
examine
Terri
Schiavo
to
determine
if
she
can
improve
with
new
medical
treatment.
The
Schindlers
and
Michael
Schiavo
are
to
choose
2
doctors
each,
and
the
court
is
to
appoint
a
doctor.
The
appeals
court
also
affirms
Greer’s
denial
of
the
motion
to
disqualify
himself.
In
re
Schiavo,
800
So.
2d
640
(2nd
DCA
2001).
10-17-01
DCA
ruling
November
1,
2001
The
2nd
DCA
denies
Michael
Schiavo’s
motion
to
rehear
the
case.
December
14,
2001
Michael
Schiavo
petitions
the
Florida
Supreme
Court
to
stay
the
October
17,
2001
ruling
of
the
2nd
DCA.
He
states
that
he
and
the
Schindlers
will
attempt
to
mediate
the
dispute
in
lieu
of
further
litigation.12-05-01
Michael
Schiavo’s
Notice
of
Appeal
to
the
Florida
Supreme
Court
12-14-01
Michael
Schiavo’s
Motion
to
Stay
DCA’s
Ruling.
December
19,
2001
Attorneys
meet
with
a
mediator
to
determine
which
tests
doctors
should
run
on
Terri
Schiavo.
January
10,
2002
State
Supreme
Court
stays
all
legal
proceedings
pending
mediation;
it
orders
attorneys
to
report
on
the
status
of
mediation
in
sixty
days.
1-10-02
SC
Order
of
Stay
February
13,
2002
Mediation
between
the
Schindlers
and
Michael
Schiavo
fails.
2-13-02
Notice
that
Mediation
failed
March
14,
2002
The
Florida
Supreme
Court
denies
Michael
Schiavo’s
petition
to
review
the
2nd
DCA’s
ruling
allowing
5
doctors
to
examine
Terri
Schiavo.
In
re
Schiavo,
816
So.
2d
127
(Fla.
2002)
(Table,
No.
SC01-2678)
2-13-02
Michael
Schiavo’s
Jurisdictional
Petition
2-13-02
Michael
Schiavo’s
Petition
to
Stay
ruling
of
2nd
DCA
(10/17/01).
2-22-02
Court’s
Order
of
Stay
pending
its
final
decision
3-01-02
Schindler’s
Jurisdictional
Brief
3-13-01
Michael
Schiavo’s
Motion
to
Strike
3-14-01
Order
Denying
Schiavo’s
Petition
3-14-01
Order
to
Strike
October
12-22,
2002
The
trial
court
holds
a
new
hearing
on
new
potential
medical
treatments.
November
15,
2002
The
Schindlers
contend
that
Michael
Schiavo
might
have
abused
Terri
Schiavo
and
this
abuse
led
to
her
condition.
They
ask
the
court
for
more
time
to
collect
evidence,
and
to
remove
Michael
Schiavo
as
guardian.
11-15-02
Petition
to
remove
MS
as
guardian
November
22,
2002
Judge
Greer
rules
that
Terri
Schiavo’s
PEG
tube
should
be
removed
January
3,
2003.
In
re
Schiavo,
2002
WL
31817960
(Fla.
Cir.
Ct.
Nov.
22,
2002)
(No.
90-2908-GB-003)
Nov22
2002
TC
trialctorder11-02.txt
December
13,
2002
Judge
Greer
stays
his
November
22
ruling:
Terri
Schiavo
should
not
have
her
PEG
tube
removed
until
an
appeals
court
can
rule
on
the
case.
December
23,
2002
The
2nd
DCA
denies
a
motion
Michael
Schiavo
filed
seeking
permission
to
remove
the
PEG
tube.
June
6,
2003
The
2nd
DCA,
affirming
Judge
Greer’s
November
2002
ruling,
concludes
that
Michael
Schiavo
can
remove
Terri
Schiavo’s
PEG
tube
on
October
15.
In
re
Schiavo,
851
So.
2d
182
(2nd
DCA
2003)
(No.
2D02-5394),
rehearing
denied
(July
9,
2003),
review
denied
855
So.
2d
621
(Fla.
2003).
6-06-03
Court
Opinion
July
9,
2003
The
2nd
DCA
refuses
to
reconsider
its
decision.
August
22,
2003
The
Florida
Supreme
Court
declines
to
review
the
decision.
Schindler
v.
Schiavo,
855
So.
2d
621
(Fla.
2003)
(Table,
No.
SC03-1242)
7-24-03
Notice
of
Schindlers'
Appeal
7-31-03
Michael
Schiavo’s
Motion
to
Vacate
Court
Order
denying
Motion
to
Vacate
8-07-03
Schindler's
Petition
for
a
Supreme
Court
Review
8-13-03
Michael
Shiavo’s
Response
to
Petition
for
Review
8-18-03
Schindlers
motion
for
a
Stay
8-19-03
Court
Orders
Schiavo
to
make
a
Respond
for
the
Motion
for
Stay
8-20-03
Shiavo’s
Response
to
Motion
for
Stay
8-22-03
Court
Order
denying
Review
and
Motion
for
Stay
August
30,
2003
Terri
Schiavo’s
parents
file
a
federal
lawsuit
challenging
the
removal
of
Terri
Schiavo’s
PEG
tube.
Schiavos’
petition
(D).
Schindler
v.
Schiavo,
Civil
Action
No.
8:03-CV-1860-T-26-T-TGW
September
17,
2003
Judge
Greer
orders
the
removal
of
the
PEG
tube
to
take
place
on
October
15,
2003.
He
also
rejects
the
Schindlers’
request
that
Terri
Schiavo
be
given
therapy
to
learn
how
to
eat
without
the
tube.
9-17-03
Court
Order
October
7,
2003
Governor
Jeb
Bush
files
a
federal
court
brief
in
support
of
the
Schindlers’
effort
to
stop
the
removal
of
the
PEG
tube.
October
10,
2003
Federal
Court
Judge
Richard
Lazzara
rules
that
he
lacks
the
jurisdiction
to
hear
the
federal
case.
October
14,
2003
The
2nd
DCA
refuses
to
block
Judge
Greer’s
order
to
remove
the
PEG
tube.
October
15,
2003
Terri
Schiavo’s
PEG
tube
is
once
again
removed.
October
17,
2003
The
Florida
Circuit
Court
in
Pinellas
County
and
the
First
District
Court
of
Appeal
refuse
to
grant
a
request
made
by
the
“supporters”
of
the
Schindlers
to
direct
Governor
Jeb
Bush
to
intervene
in
the
Schiavo
case.
October
19,
2003
The
Advocacy
Center
for
Persons
with
Disabilities,
Inc.
files
a
federal
court
lawsuit
that
claims
that
the
removal
of
Terri
Schiavo’s
PEG
tube
is
abuse
and
neglect.
Advocacy
Center
for
Persons
with
Disabilities,
Inc.
v.
Schiavo,
No.
8:03-CV-2167-T-23EAJ
October
20,
2003
The
Florida
House
of
Representatives
passes
a
bill,
“Terri’s
Law,”
that
allows
the
governor
to
issue
a
“one-time
stay
in
certain
cases.”
HouseBill35-E.pdf
October
21,
2003
The
Florida
Senate
passes
the
bill;
Governor
Bush
issues
an
executive
order
directing
reinsertion
of
the
PEG
tube
and
appointing
a
guardian
ad
litem
for
Terri
Schiavo.
Schiavo
Controversy
Fla_
Gov_
Exec_
Order
No_
03-201.htm
Statements
by
some
House
members
October
21,
2003
Michael
Schiavo
files
a
state-court
lawsuit
arguing
that
“Terri’s
Law”
is
unconstitutional
and
seeking
an
injunction
to
stop
the
reinsertion
of
the
PEG
tube;
the
court
requests
briefs
on
the
Constitutional
arguments
about
“Terri’s
Law.”
10-21-03
Schiavo
Injunction
Amicus
Brief
from
House
Speaker
Byrd
(B)
Schiavo
v.
Bush.
No.
03-008212-CI-20
(Cir.
Ct.
Pinellas
County,
Florida).
October
21,
2003
The
federal
court
denies
the
motion
for
a
temporary
restraining
order
filed
in
the
lawsuit
of
the
Advocacy
Center
for
Persons
with
Disabilities,
Inc.
Advocacy
Center
for
Persons
with
Disabilities,
Inc.
v.
Schiavo,
2003
WL
23305833,
17
Fla.
L.
Weekly
Fed.
D
291
(M.D.
Fla.
Oct.
21,
2003).
10-21-03
US
District
Court
Order
October
21,
2003
Terri
Schiavo’s
PEG
tube
is
reinserted.
October
22
2003
David
Demeres,
Chief
Judge
for
the
Pinellas
County
Circuit
Court,
orders
both
the
Schindlers
and
Michael
Schiavo
to
agree
within
5
days
on
an
independent
guardian
ad
litem
as
required
under
the
Governor’s
order.
(“Terri’s
Law”
directs:
“Upon
issuance
of
the
stay,
the
chief
judge
of
the
circuit
court
shall
appoint
a
guardian
ad
litem
for
the
patient
to
make
recommendations
to
the
Governor
and
the
court.”)
Schiavo's
Response
Schindlers'
Response
October
28,
2003
President
George
W.
Bush
praises
the
way
his
brother,
Governor
Jeb
Bush,
has
handled
the
Schiavo
matter.
Transcript
of
Rose
Garden
Press
Conference
October
29,
2003
Michael
Schiavo
files
court
papers
in
his
state-court
lawsuit,
arguing
that
“Terri’s
Law”
is
unconstitutional.
The
American
Civil
Liberties
Union
has
joined
Michael
Schiavo.
Michael
Schiavo
petitioner
brief
October
31,
2003
Judge
Demers
appoints
Dr.
Jay
Wolfson
as
Terri
Schiavo’s
guardian
ad
litem.
Dr.
Wolfson
holds
both
medical
and
legal
degrees;
he
is
also
a
public
health
professor
at
the
University
of
South
Florida.
He
is
supposed
to
represent
Terri
Schiavo’s
best
interest
in
court,
but
he
has
no
authority
to
make
decisions
for
her.
10-31-03
GAL
Appointment
November
4,
2003
Governor
Jeb
Bush
asks
Circuit
Court
Judge
W.
Douglas
Baird
to
dismiss
Michael
Schiavo’s
suit
(filed
October
21,
2003)
that
challenges
“Terri’s
Law.”
November
8,
2003
Judge
Baird
denies
Governor
Bush’s
motion
to
dismiss
the
state-court
suit.
November
10,
2003
Governor
Bush
appeals
Judge
Baird’s
decision;
the
filing
of
the
appeal
has
the
effect
of
staying
the
removal
of
Terri
Schiavo’s
PEG
tube.
November
14,
2003
Judge
Baird
vacates
the
stay.
11-14-03
Order
vacating
stay.
November
14,
2003
In
response
to
Judge
Baird’s
lifting
the
stay,
the
2nd
DCA
issues
an
indefinite
stay.
November
19,
2003
Governor
Bush
files
a
petition
to
remove
Judge
Baird.
11-19-03
Petition
November
21,
2003
Florida
Sens.
Stephen
Wise
and
Jim
Sebesta
introduce
legislation
(S692)
that
would
require
persons
in
persistent
vegetative
states
to
be
administered
medically
supplied
nutrition
and
hydration
in
the
absence
of
a
living
will,
regardless
of
family
beliefs
about
what
those
patients
would
have
wanted.
The
measure
is
withdrawn
from
consideration
on
April
16,
2004.
Bill
to
require
sustenence
when
no
living
will
exists
December
1,
2003
Jay
Wolfson,
guardian
ad
litem,
concludes
in
his
report
that
Terri
Schiavo
is
in
a
persistent
vegetative
state
with
no
chance
of
improvement.
Wolfson's
Report
Governor
Bush's
response
to
Wolfson's
report
December
10,
2003
The
2nd
DCA
refuses
to
remove
Judge
Baird,
who
is
the
presiding
judge
in
the
state-court
lawsuit
filed
October
21,
2003.
Bush
v.
Schiavo,
861
So.
2d
506
(2nd
DCA
2003)
(No.
2D03-5244)
12-10-03
Court
Opinion
January
5,
2004
The
Schindler
family
petitions
the
Pinellas
County
Circuit
Court
to
reappoint
Jay
Wolfson,
the
guardian
ad
litem.
1-05-04
Schindlers
petition
to
reappoint
GAL
January
8,
2004
Judge
Demers
rejects
the
request
to
reappoint
the
guardian
ad
litem,
citing
the
pending
court
decisions
over
the
constitutionality
of
“Terri’s
Law”
as
reason
to
wait
on
any
action.
1-08-04
Order
denying
reinstatement
of
GAL
February
13,
2004
The
2nd
DCA
reverses
Judge
Baird’s
ruling
(in
the
case
filed
October
21,
2003)
that
denied
the
Schindlers
permission
to
intervene
in
Michael
Schiavo’s
Constitutional
challenge
to
“Terri’s
Law.”
The
2nd
DCA
explains
that
Judge
Baird
did
not
follow
proper
procedure.
The
court
also
gives
permission
to
Governor
Bush
to
question
several
witnesses
who
Judge
Baird
previously
had
ruled
could
not
offer
any
relevant
testimony.
Bush
v.
Schiavo,
866
So.
2d
140
(Fla.
2nd
DCA
2004)
(on
intervention);
866
So.
2d
136
(2nd
DCA
2004)
(on
request
to
take
depositions).
(Case
No.
2D03-5783).
bushschiavo2
13
04
opn.pdf
2-13-04
Opinion
allowing
parents
to
intervene
March
12,
2004
Judge
Baird
again
rejects
the
Schindlers’
request
to
intervene
in
Michael
Schiavo’s
suit
that
questions
the
constitutionality
of
“Terri’s
Law.”
March
20,
2004
Pope
John
Paul
II
addresses
World
Federation
of
Catholic
Medical
Associations
and
Pontifical
Academy
for
Life
Congress
on
"Life-Sustaining
Treatments
and
Vegetative
State:
Scientific
Advances
and
Ethical
Dilemmas."
His
remarks
spark
widespread
interest
and
controversy.
Pope's
address
March
29,
2004
Nursing
home
workers
discover
4
“fresh
puncture
wounds”
on
one
arm
and
a
fifth
wound
on
the
other
arm;
the
workers
state
that
a
hypodermic
needle
appears
to
have
caused
the
wounds.
Attendants
discovered
the
wounds
shortly
after
the
Schindlers
visited
Terri
Schiavo
for
45
minutes.
Toxicology
reports
indicate
that
no
substance
was
injected
into
Terri
Schiavo.
Clearwater
police
later
conclude
that
the
marks
might
have
been
made
by
a
device
used
to
move
Ms.
Schiavo
and,
in
any
case,
that
no
evidence
of
abuse
or
other
wrongdoing
could
be
found.
St.
Petersburg
Times
report
(May
15,
2004)
March
29,
2004
Judge
Greer
denies
a
motion
filed
by
the
Schindlers
seeking
to
have
Michael
Schiavo
defend
himself
in
a
hearing;
they
allege
that
he
is
violating
a
1996
court
order
that
requires
him
to
share
a
sufficient
amount
of
Terri
Schiavo’s
medical
information.
Michael
Schiavo
claims
that
he
has
shared
an
adequate
amount
of
information
through
attorneys.
April
16,
2004
S692
is
withdrawn
from
consideration
in
the
Florida
Legislature.
S692
History
April
23,
2004
The
2nd
DCA
rules
that
the
Pinellas
County
trial
court
has
jurisdiction
to
hear
and
is
the
proper
venue
for
the
case
Michael
Schiavo
has
filed
against
Governor
Bush
asserting
that
"Terri's
Law"
is
unconstitutional.
2nd
DCA
Jurisdictional
ruling
May
6,
2004
Pinellas
Circuit
Judge
W.
Douglas
Baird
rules
that
"Terri's
Law,"
sought
and
signed
by
Gov.
Bush
and
approved
by
the
Legislature
on
October
21,
2003,
is
unconstitutional.
The
governor
appeals
the
ruling.
Judge
Baird's
order
June
1,
2004
The
2nd
DCA
grants
a
motion
from
attorneys
for
Michael
Schiavo
to
send
the
case
directly
to
the
Florida
Supreme
Court
and
bypass
a
lower-court
review.
Meanwhile,
attorneys
for
Gov.
Bush
file
a
motion
asking
that
all
appeals
be
halted
until
the
issue
of
whether
Michael
Schiavo
has
the
authority
to
fight
the
governor
on
his
wife's
behalf
is
resolved.
Tallahassee
Democrat
report
June
16,
2004
Florida's
Supreme
Court,
pointing
to
"a
question
of
great
public
importance
requiring
immediate
resolution
by
this
Court,"
accepts
jurisdiction
and
sets
oral
arguments
for
August
31,
2004.
Florida
Supreme
Court
order
June
30,
2004
2nd
DCA
affirms
Judge
Baird's
March
12
ruling
denying
the
Schindlers
the
ability
to
intervene
in
the
lawsuit
over
the
constitutionality
of
"Terri's
Law."
July
19,
2004
The
Schindlers
file
a
motion
in
the
Circuit
Court
for
Pinellas
County
seeking
relief
from
judgment
in
Schindler
v.
Schiavo.
Based
in
part
upon
the
recent
statement
by
Pope
John
Paul
II,
they
argue
that
the
orders
mandating
withdrawal
of
the
PEG
tube
from
Terri
and
authorizing
Michael
to
challenge
the
constitutionality
of
"Terri's
Law"
violate
her
"free
exercise
of
her
religious
beliefs
[and]
her
right
to
enjoy
and
defend
her
own
life
and,
in
fact,
imperil
her
immortal
soul."
Relief
from
judgment
motion
Appendix
to
motion
(seven
exhibits)
July
27,
2004
National
group
of
bioethicists
files
amicus
brief
"in
support
of
Michael
Schiavo
as
guardian
of
the
person."
Bioethicists'
amicus
brief
August
31,
2004
The
Florida
Supreme
Court
hears
oral
arguments
in
the
lawsuit
over
the
constitutionality
of
"Terri's
Law."
Streaming
video
of
the
proceedings,
archived
by
WFSU
at
Florida
State
University
Transcript
St.
Petersburg
Times
report
August
31,
2004
Circuit
Judge
George
Greer,
opposed
for
re-election
by
an
attorney
who
was
known
to
oppose
Greer's
rulings
in
the
Schiavo
case,
is
re-elected
by
a
large
margin.
St.
Petersburg
Times
report
September
23,
2004
Florida's
Supreme
Court,
unanimously
affirming
the
trial
court
order,
declares
"Terri's
Law"
unconstitutional.
Supreme
Court
ruling
October
4,
2004
Governor
Bush
files
a
motion
and
then
an
amended
motion
for
rehearing
and
clarification
of
the
Florida
Supreme
Court
opinion
issued
on
September
23,
2004
Amended
motion
for
rehearing
and
clarification
October
21,
2004
Florida
Supreme
Court
denies
Governor
Bush's
amended
motion
for
rehearing
and
clarification,
as
well
as
a
motion
seeking
permission
to
file
a
second
amended
motion
for
rehearing
and
clarification.
The
Court
issues
a
mandate.
Order
October
22,
2004
In
Pinellas
County,
at
the
trial-court
level,
Judge
Greer
denies
the
motion
filed
by
the
Schindlers
on
July
19,
2004.
He
also
stays
the
removal
of
her
PEG
tube
until
December
6,
2004.
Order
Denying
Motion
Order
Granting
Stay
October
25,
2004
Governor
Bush
files
a
motion
with
the
Florida
Supreme
Court
asking
that
it
recall
the
mandate
it
issued
on
October
22
because
he
will
be
filing
a
petition
for
certiorari
regarding
this
case
with
the
United
States
Supreme
Court.
Motion
to
Recall
Mandate
Appendix
to
Motion
October
27,
2004
Florida
Supreme
Court
grants
Governor
Bush's
motion
asking
that
it
recall
the
mandate
issued
on
October
22.
Proceedings
in
the
trial
and
all
appellate
courts
in
the
case
of
Bush
v.
Schiavo
are
stayed
until
November
29,
2004.
Order
Recalling
Mandate
November
22,
2004
In
the
guardianship
proceeding
in
Pinellas
County,
the
Schindlers
appeal
from
Judge
Greer’s
October
22
order
denying
their
motion
for
relief
from
judgment.
Brief
Seeking
Review
December
3,
2004
Governor
Bush
files
a
petition
for
certiorari,
seeking
review
of
the
Florida
Supreme
Court’s
decision
regarding
Terri’s
law,
with
the
U.S.
Supreme
Court.
U.S.
Supreme
Court
Docket
Petition
for
Writ
of
Certiorari
December
29,
2004
2nd
DCA,
without
opinion,
denies
the
Schindlers'
November
22
appeal
from
Judge
Greer's
order
refusing
to
reopen
the
guardianship
proceeding.
January
10,
2005
The
Schindlers
again
ask
Judge
Greer
to
remove
Michael
Schiavo
from
his
judicial
appointed
post
of
Terri’s
guardian.
January
13,
2005
The
Schindlers
file
two
motions
–
one
in
the
2d
DCA,
asking
it
to
reconsider
its
decision
of
December
29,
2004,
and
a
second
in
the
trial
court
guardianship
proceeding,
asking
Judge
Greer
once
again
to
prevent
withdrawal
of
nutrition
and
hydration
until
the
2d
DCA
does
so.
January
24,
2005
The
United
States
Supreme
Court
refused
to
grant
review
of
the
case
in
which
the
Florida
Supreme
Court
struck
down
“Terri’s
Law”
as
unconstitutional.
February
7,
2005
Florida's
Department
of
Agriculture
and
Consumer
Services
cites
the
Terri
Schindler-Schiavo
Foundation
for
failing
to
register
with
the
state
to
solicit
donations.
February
11,
2005
In
Pinellas
County,
Judge
Greer
denies
the
Schindlers'
motions,
filed
January
10
and
13,
2005.
The
order
authorizing
withdrawal
of
the
PEG
tube
remains
in
effect,
although
implementation
is
stayed
pending
the
outcome
of
currently
pending
appeals.
February
15,
2005
The
Schindlers
ask
the
2nd
DCA
to
stay
the
mandate
issued
when
it
refused
to
hear
their
most
recent
appeal.
February
16,
2005
Randall
Terry,
founder
of
the
pro-life
activist
organization
Operation
Rescue,
appears
with
the
Schindlers
at
a
news
conference,
vowing
protest
vigils
against
removal
of
the
PEG
tube.
February
18,
2005
The
Schindlers
again
petition
Judge
Greer
in
Pinellas
County
for
reconsideration
of
the
order
of
February
11,
2005,
in
which
the
court
upheld
its
judgment,
made
in
the
year
2000,
that
the
PEG
tube
should
be
removed.
February
18,
2005
Florida
Representatives
Baxley
Brown;
Cannon;
Davis,
D.;
Flores;
Goldstein;
Lopez-Cantera;
Murzin;
Quinones;
Traviesa
introduced
H
701
in
the
Florida
Legislature.
H
701,
mirroring
S.
692
(introduced
in
October
2003
and
withdrawn
in
April
2004),
would
require
maintenance
of
medically
supplied
nutrition
and
hydration
in
incapacitated
persons
in
most
instances.
H.701
February
21,
2005
The
2d
DCA
denies
the
Schindlers’
motion
of
February
15,
2005,
clearing
the
way
for
removal
of
the
PEG
tube
when
the
current
stay
expires
on
February
22,
2005.
Judge
Greer
schedules
a
hearing
on
the
Schindlers’
motion
of
February
18,
2005,
for
February
23,
2005.
February
22,
2005
Judge
Greer
stays
removal
of
the
PEG
tube
until
5
p.m.
on
February
23,
2005
(after
he
hears
argument
on
the
motion
filed
by
the
Schindlers
on
February
18,
2005).
February
23,
2005
After
a
hearing,
Judge
Greer
extends
the
stay
preventing
removal
of
the
PEG
tube
until
5
p.m.
on
February
25,
2005,
to
permit
time
to
issue
an
order
detailing
his
decisions
regarding
matters
discussed
at
the
hearing.
Officials
from
Florida’s
Department
of
Children
and
Families
(DCF)
move
to
intervene
in
the
case,
but
Judge
Greer
denies
the
motion
to
intervene
at
the
hearing.
DCF
Motion
to
Intervene
February
25,
2005
Judge
Greer
denies
the
motion
before
him
and
orders
that,
“absent
a
stay
from
the
appellate
courts,
the
guardian,
Michael
Schiavo,
shall
cause
the
removal
of
nutrition
and
hydration
from
the
ward,
Theresa
Schiavo,
at
1
p.m.
on
Friday,
March
18,
2005.”
Order
Denying
Stay
February
26,
2005
The
St.
Petersburg
Times
reports
that
a
Vatican
cardinal
spoke
on
Vatican
Radio
opposing
removal
of
the
PEG
tube.
St.
Petersburg
Times
article
February
28,
2005
The
Schindlers
file
a
number
of
motions
with
Judge
Greer,
addressing
a
range
of
issues.
They
also
indicate
that
they
will
appeal
the
judge's
decision
of
February
25,
2005.
Judge
Greer
denies
some
of
the
motions
but
agreed
to
set
a
hearing
date
to
consider
others.
St.
Petersburg
Times
article
March
7,
2005
The
Schindlers
appeal
Judge
Greer's
February
25,
2005
order
to
the
2nd
DCA.
Bioethicists
from
six
Florida
universities
submit
an
analysis
of
H701.
Bioethicists'
analysis
March
8,
2005
U.S.
Rep.
David
Weldon
(R.-Fla.)
introduces
in
the
United
States
House
of
Representatives
H.R.
1151,
titled
the
Incapactitated
Persons'
Legal
Protection
Act.
The
bill
would
permit
a
federal
court
to
review
the
Schiavo
matter
through
a
habeas
corpus
lawsuit.
H.R.
1151
March
9,
2005
The
Florida
House
Health
Care
Regulation
Committee
considers
H.701,
voting
to
approve
a
Council/Committee
Substitute
701
instead
of
the
original
version.
Council/Committee
Substitute
701
March
10,
2005
Judge
Greer
issues
order
denying
Florida's
Department
of
Children
and
Families
the
right
to
intervene
in
the
guardianship
case.
March
14,
2005
The
Judiciary
Committee
in
the
Florida
House
considers
H.701,
voting
to
approve
another
Committee
substitute
for
the
original
bill.
The
Sun-Sentinel
reports
that
the
House
and
the
Senate
have
agreed
that
this
bill
will
come
to
a
vote.
Second
Committee
Substitute
701
March
15,
2005
The
Florida
House
Health
&
Families
Council
considers
and
approves
the
second
committee
substitute
H.701.
The
Florida
Senate
Judiciary
Committee
passes
S.804,
providing
that
medically
supplied
nutrition
and
hydration
cannot
be
“suspended
from”
a
person
in
a
PVS
if:
(1)
the
purpose
of
the
suspension
is
“solely
to
end
the
life
of”
a
person
in
a
PVS;
(2)
a
conflict
exists
on
the
issue
of
suspension
of
medically
supplied
nutrition
and
hydration
among
the
persons
who
could
be
proxy
decisionmakers
for
that
person
under
Florida
law;
and
(3)
the
person
in
the
PVS
had
not
executed
a
written
advance
directive
or
designated
a
health
care
surrogate.
Senate
Bill
804
March
16,
2005
The
2d
DCA
affirms
Judge
Greer’s
orders
and
refuses
to
stay
the
scheduled
March
18
withdrawal
of
the
PEG
tube.
2d
DCA
Opinion
The
U.S.
House
of
Representatives,
by
voice
vote,
passes
H.R.
1332,
the
Protection
of
Incapacitated
Persons
Act
of
2005.
This
bill
would
amend
federal
law
to
provide
for
removal
of
certain
cases
to
federal
court
from
state
court,
rather
than
authorizing
use
of
the
federal
habeas
corpus
remedy
to
obtain
federal
court
review,
as
H.R.
1151
would
have.
H.R.
1332
March
17,
2005
The
Florida
House
of
Representatives
approves
H.701,
after
some
amendments.
House-Engrossed
H.701
The
Florida
Senate
votes
down
S.804.
History
of
S.804
Florida’s
Department
of
Children
and
Families
(DCF)
petitions
the
Florida
Supreme
Court
for
relief,
and
the
Florida
Supreme
Court
denies
the
petition.
DCF
All
Writs
Petition
Florida
Supreme
Court
order
The
U.S.
Senate
passes
a
“private
bill”
applying
to
the
Schiavo
case
but
differing
from
H.R.
1332.
The
U.S.
Senate
website,
at
www.senate.gov,
explains
a
“private
bill”
as
follows:
“A
private
bill
provides
benefits
to
specified
individuals
(including
corporate
bodies).
Individuals
sometimes
request
relief
through
private
legislation
when
administrative
or
legal
remedies
are
exhausted.
Many
private
bills
deal
with
immigration–granting
citizenship
or
permanent
residency.
Private
bills
may
also
be
introduced
for
individuals
who
have
claims
again
the
government,
veterans
benefits
claims,
claims
for
military
decorations,
or
taxation
problems.
The
title
of
a
private
bill
usually
begins
with
the
phrase,
"For
the
relief
of.
.
.
."
If
a
private
bill
is
passed
in
identical
form
by
both
houses
of
Congress
and
is
signed
by
the
President,
it
becomes
a
private
law.”
U.S.
Senate
Bill
653
ES
Orlando
Sentinel
article
The
Schindlers
ask
the
U.S.
Supreme
Court
to
hear
the
case,
but
the
U.S.
Supreme
Court
denies
their
petition.
Schindlers’
Petition
to
U.S.
Supreme
Court
U.S.
Supreme
Court
Denial
March
18,
2005
The
U.S.
House
of
Representatives
Committee
on
Government
Reform
issues
five
subpoenas:
one
commanding
Michael
Schiavo
to
appear
before
it
and
bring
with
him
the
“hydration
and
nutrition
equipment”
in
working
order;
three
commanding
physicians
and
other
personnel
at
the
hospice
to
do
the
same;
and
one
commanding
Terri
Schiavo
to
appear
before
it.
The
subpoenas
would
require
that
the
PEG
tube
remain
in
working
order
until
at
least
the
date
of
testimony,
March
25,
2005.
The
subpoenas
are
included
as
appendices
to
the
U.S.
House
All
Writs
Petition
(see
just
below).
The
Committee
on
Government
Reform
also
moves
to
intervene
in
the
guardianship
litigation
before
Judge
Greer
and
asks
Judge
Greer
to
stay
his
order
requiring
removal
of
the
PEG
tube.
Judge
Greer
denies
the
motions.
U.S.
House
Motion
to
Intervene
U.S.
House
Motion
for
Stay
The
Committee
on
Government
Reform
files
an
emergency
all-writs
petition
with
the
Florida
Supreme
Court,
effectively
seeking
reversal
of
Judge
Greer’s
denial
of
its
motions.
The
Florida
Supreme
Court
denies
this
petition.
U.S.
House
All
Writs
Petition
The
House
Committee
on
Government
Reform
asks
the
U.S.
Supreme
Court
to
review
the
Florida
Supreme
Court’s
denial
of
its
petition.
Justice
Kennedy,
acting
for
the
Court,
denies
the
application
for
relief.
U.S.
Supreme
Court
Docket,
Case
No.
SC05-449
The
PEG
tube
is
removed
in
mid-afternoon.
This
is
the
third
time
the
tube
has
been
removed
in
accordance
with
court
orders.
The
Schindlers,
as
“next
friends”
of
their
daughter,
file
a
petition
for
writ
of
habeas
corpus
in
federal
district
court
in
the
Middle
District
of
Florida.
That
court
dismisses
the
case
for
lack
of
jurisdiction
and
refuses
to
issue
a
temporary
restraining
order
because
“there
is
not
a
substantial
likelihood
that
[the
Schindlers]
will
prevail
on
their
federal
constitutional
claims.”
Schindlers'
Habeas
Corpus
Petition
U.S.
House
Speaker
Tom
DeLay
and
other
Republican
House
members
discuss
the
Schiavo
case.
DeLay
on
Schiavo
via
C-Span
March
19-20,
2005
The
U.S.
Senate
delays
its
Easter
recess
and
works
on
Saturday
to
reach
a
compromise
with
the
House
on
a
bill,
S.686,
closely
resembling
the
special
bill
it
passed
on
March
17.
On
Palm
Sunday
(which
holiday
is
frequently
noted
in
debate),
it
then
passes
S.686
and
the
U.S.
House
of
Representatives
returns
from
Easter
recess
for
a
special
session
to
debate
S.686.
U.S.
Senate
Compromise
Bill
S.686
| 
