Kathryn Serkes
AAPS Doctors: Schindler-Schiavo
Wed Oct 22 20:31:21 2003
64.140.158.110

AAPS Doctors: Schindler-Schiavo is Not a 'Death with Dignity' Issue
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=125-10222003
10/22/03 1:58:00 PM

To: National Desk

Contact: Kathryn Serkes, 202-333-3855, or kathryn@aapsonline.org ; http://www.aapsonline.org

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) issued this statement from Jane M. Orient, M.D., in response to the emergency action of the Florida legislature to reinstate feeding and hydration of Terri Schindler-Schiavo:

"Terri Schindler-Schiavo has won a temporary stay from execution by a method too cruel to be used for convicted criminals. And yet her husband's attorney is trying to spin it into a 'death with dignity issue' with his comments on Tuesday.

"He says it's cruel to begin rehydration. The opposite is true -- dehydration is a cruel, painful death. It is unconscionable that the state ordered removal of her feeding tube in the first place -- it's nothing less than state-sponsored euthanasia.

"She is not dependent on advanced medical interventions. Nothing is mechanically pumping her blood, or forcing oxygen into her lungs. She is simply being fed through a gastrostomy tube. Would we allow a retarded child to be starved to death?

"Some physicians believe that Terri could be rehabilitated to some extent, at least so that she could swallow oral feedings and eliminate the need for the tube. She should be allowed to try, but so far her husband has blocked every attempt to see whether she can swallow. Doctors have offered pro bono treatment, if money is the barrier for her husband.

"Although severely disabled, some believe that she does have the capacity to communicate a desire to live. The husband has obstructed efforts at rehabilitation or independent assessments of his wife's true state.

"Where are the 'compassionate end-of-life' groups such as the Robert Wood Johnson 'Last Acts' initiative, and why aren't they weighing in on this?

"The ethical question for her nurses and physicians is whether they will cooperate in carrying out a death warrant.

"And the ethical question for all of us is whether we will allow the state to obstruct the efforts of people who want to provide medical care to a patient who wants to receive it.

"If we go down that path, who's to say what treatment the state will prevent you from getting?"
 
http://www.usnewswire.com/

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Searched news for Schindler-Schiavo

Randall Terry, Founder of Operation Rescue says, "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban is a Public Relations Goldmine, but a Political Scam"

10/22/03 6:37:00 PM
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=139-10222003

To: National Desk

Contact: Gary McCullough, 202-546-0054 or 904-819-9450, for the Society for Truth and Justice

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following is a statement by Randall Terry, Founder of Operation Rescue:

The Public Relations Goldmine:

"The major benefit of this bill is the debate that surrounds it: 1) Abortion and abortion procedures are discussed in the news media, hence the public is educated; 2) The public sees how completely barbaric and violent partial-birth abortion is; 3) Voters see who supports this crime against children and mothers. The ethics behind partial-birth abortion are the same as those that justified Nazi concentration camps and American slavery. History will show that abortion in America was a gross betrayal of human rights and a crime against humanity," states Randall Terry, Founder of Operation Rescue, and President of the Society for Truth and Justice.

The Political Scam:

"This bill, if it becomes law, may not save one child's life. The Federal Courts are likely to strike it down. Furthermore this bill would only insure that unborn children would be murdered in some other hideous fashion. The bill also provides political cover in an election season to cowardly 'pro-life' political leaders who have done little for the pro-life cause. Worse yet, this bill would provide political cover for supporters of Roe-v-Wade within both parties, especially the Republican Party whose constituents are pro-life. This enables certain pro-choice Congressmen to support this bill and play both sides of the political fence. If the President and Congress want to accomplish a small, but real step, they should outlaw all abortions after 20 weeks -- the age when a baby can live outside the womb," states Randall Terry, Founder of Operation Rescue, and President of the Society for Truth and Justice.

Randall Terry is also available to comment on the rescue of Terry Schindler-Schiavo, and his part in bringing her plight national attention.

EDITORS: To schedule an interview with Randall Terry, please call 202-546-0054 or 904-819-9450 or email info@maranatha.tv

For more information about Randall Terry visit http://www.RandallTerry.com

• NOT JUSTIFYING INVOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA — Peter Singer, Wed Oct 22 20:59