MI Right to Life Update

March 23, 2005


Working to Protect Terri -- UPDATE

Terri Schiavo, a disabled Florida woman, is not brain dead. She is not in a coma. She is not on life support. Her brain has been damaged and she needs to be fed to stay alive.

Early in the morning of March 21, the United States House of Representatives approved a bill already passed by the Senate to allow Terri's parents, Robert and Mary Schindler, to obtain a new federal court review of all the factual and legal issues that bear on Terri Schiavo's rights under the U.S. Constitution and federal law. President Bush immediately signed the bill into law. This law allowed the Schindlers to bring their case to save Terri's life to a federal court in Florida on March 21.

On March 22, U.S. District Court Judge James Whittemore refused to order the reinsertion of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. Terri has now been without food since Friday, March 18.

Early on March 23, in a 2-1 ruling, a panel of the 11th Circuit Court in Atlanta denied the reinsertion of Terri's feeding tube. Terri's parents have vowed to take their case to the United States Supreme Court, which may or may not decide to make a decision on the case. Efforts are also underway in Florida to convince state senators to pass a bill that would require stronger evidence of informed consent before food and water are taken away from an incapacitated patient.

Please keep Terri and her family members in your prayers.

The Right to Life of Michigan web site has information on current prolife happenings, events and legislation. Information on Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care is also available. The best prolife information is only a click away -- www.rtl.org .

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Right to Life of Michigan State Central Office
2340 Porter SW / PO Box 901
Grand Rapids, MI 49509
Phone: 616/532-2300