Newswire

Court to weigh petition in the Schaivo case

11th to Weigh Petition

As Terri Schiavo neared her 13th day without nourishment, the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta agreed early today to consider a petition for a hearing on whether to reconnect her feeding tube. Schiavo remained at a hospice in Pinellas Park, Fla.

This time, the court is considering a request for a new trial rather than whether earlier state rulings have met legal standards under Florida law, which is what federal courts have done previously.

The surprise development came after Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, lost another round in state courts Tuesday. A Florida appeals court upheld a previous ruling that blocked the state Department of Children and Families from intervening in the case.

Schiavo's parents have maintained that the 41-year-old would want to be kept alive. Her husband, Michael Schiavo, has said he is carrying out her wishes by having the feeding tube pulled.

Her condition: Conflicting reports emerged Tuesday as to whether Terri Schiavo was unable to pass urine, which would indicate her kidneys had failed and death is imminent. George Felos, the lawyer for Michael Schiavo, said she had not urinated since Sunday, but her parents dispute that.

End-of-life specialists said the toll of nearly two weeks without food or water may be irreversible.


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Posted by Editor at March 30, 2005 08:22 AM