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'''Terri Schiavo''' (Dec. 3, 1963 – Mar. 31, 2005) was a disabled woman forced to die by dehydration over the objections of her parents, her brother and sister, her church, and millions of Americans.  Congress passed a special law to prevent her dehydration, but it was unsuccessful as interpreted by federal courts.

'''Terri Schiavo''' (Dec. 3, 1963 – Mar. 31, 2005) was a disabled woman forced to die by dehydration over the objections of her parents, her brother and sister, her church, and millions of Americans.  Congress passed a special law to prevent her dehydration, but it was unsuccessful as interpreted by federal courts.

Schiavo was diagnosed by physicians as being [[brain-damaged]] after her husband reported that she had collapsed in their home early in the morning.  At the urging of Terri's parents to date other women, her husband Michael Schivo later started a new family with another woman, whom he eventually married after Terri's death, while retaining legal authority over Terri.[http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/26/Tampabay/She_s_the_other_woman.shtml]  An attorney prominent in the movement described by some as "pro-death" represented Mr. Schiavo and applied to a [[probate court]] for the right to deprive Terri of water until she died.  The probate judge ordered that Terri be dehydrated to death, and that anyone attempting to bring her water be arrested.

Schiavo was diagnosed by physicians as being [[brain-damaged]] after her husband reported that she had collapsed in their home early in the morning.  At the urging of Terri's parents to date other women, her husband Michael Schivo later started a new family with another woman, whom he eventually married after Terri's death, while retaining legal authority over Terri.[http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/26/Tampabay/She_s_the_other_woman.shtml]   

 

George Felos, an attorney prominent in the right-to-die movement and described by some as "pro-death"<ref>http://www.northcountrygazette.org/articles/101205TerriSchiavo.html</ref> represented Mr. Schiavo and applied to the Pinellas County-Pasco County Circuit [[probate court]] for the right to remove Terri’s feeding tube.  The court agreed with the request after seven years of testimony from Terri’s husband, parents, and numerous professional and medical witnesses.<ref>http://abstractappeal.com/schiavo/WolfsonReport.pdf</ref>  Several people, including children, were arrested when they attempted to give drinking water to Terri after the final court order was enforced.<ref>http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/mar/05032402.html</ref>

Terri Schiavo was not [[terminally ill]], she was not “end stage,” but she was determined to be in a [[persistent vegetative state]].  This conclusion was reached by all the [[neurologist]]s that examined Terri with the exception of the neurologist hired by Terri’s parents.  Her parents were given the right to a comprehensive examination of Terri by order of the Florida 6th Judicial Circuit court.  Two neurologists selected by Michael Schiavo, one [[radiologist]] and one neurologist selected by Terri’s parents, and one neurologist selected by the court examined Terri and her medical history thoroughly.  Based on the medical testimony, the court determined Terri was in a persistent vegetative state with no hope of improvement.[http://abstractappeal.com/schiavo/WolfsonReport.pdf]

Terri Schiavo was not [[terminally ill]], she was not “end stage,” but she was determined to be in a [[persistent vegetative state]].  This conclusion was reached by all the [[neurologist]]s that examined Terri with the exception of the neurologist hired by Terri’s parents.  Her parents were given the right to a comprehensive examination of Terri by order of the Florida 6th Judicial Circuit court.  Two neurologists selected by Michael Schiavo, one [[radiologist]] and one neurologist selected by Terri’s parents, and one neurologist selected by the court examined Terri and her medical history thoroughly.  Based on the medical testimony, the court determined Terri was in a persistent vegetative state with no hope of improvement.[http://abstractappeal.com/schiavo/WolfsonReport.pdf]