Ordeals: The Schiavo Family

In autumn 2003, we reported on a personal and painful drama then playing out in Florida: the case of Terri Schiavo and the battle over withdrawal of her feeding tube. That personal and painful drama continues.

The drama began in February 1990 when Terri, at the age of 27, suffered a heart attack that caused injury to her brain and left her in a persistent vegetative state. She is able to breathe on her own, but needs a feeding tube to give her nutrition and hydration.

Terri had failed to name anyone to make decisions for her if she ever became incapacitated. Her husband and parents disagree over who should make decisions about her care, what decisions should be made, and what Terri would decide if she were able to speak for herself. Her family has been fighting a court battle for more than six years. Not only the courts, but the Florida legislature and governor have been involved.

In October 2003, following a court order, the process of allowing Terri to die was begun when Terri's feeding tube was removed. But, as a last minute intervention, the Florida Legislature quickly passed "Terri's Law," a law that allowed Governor Jeb Bush to order that Terri's feeding tube be reinserted. The tube was reinserted six days after its removal.

In September 2004, the Florida Supreme Court unanimously agreed that Terri's Law violated Florida's constitution. The Florida Supreme Court's decision hasn't settled the matter, however.

Terri's parents then asked the trial court to reconsider the matter. Citing the March 2004 speech by Pope John Paul II, they allege that Terri, as a Catholic, would not want the feeding tube removed.

Subsequently, the trial court authorized removal of Terri's feeding tube, and it was removed (again) on Friday, March 18, 2005. Over that weekend, Congress passed special legislation allowing Terri's parents to seek a review in a Federal court. The first Federal court hearing was held on March 21, and was followed by many other Federal and state court actions.

On March 31, thirteen days after removal of her feeding tube, Terri Schiavo died at age 41. Her death ended a fifteen year struggle, that eventually captured hearts and minds across the U.S. Terri Schiavo - Rest in Peace.

• name someone to make care decisions for us if we're ever unable to make them ourselves, and
• discuss our thoughts and feelings about end-of-life care with the persons we've named, our health care providers and other close family members and friends.