Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Nunc dimittis

Schiavo Judge Refuses Request to Connect Feeding Tube
(Bloomberg, 22 March 2005)

U.S. District Judge James Whittemore denied an emergency request by Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, who had exhausted state court appeals. The Schindlers filed a federal lawsuit early yesterday after Congress and President George W. Bush took extraordinary action to authorize U.S. court review.

"This court concludes that Theresa Schiavo's life and liberty interests were adequately protected by the extensive process provided in the state courts," Whittemore, who held a two-hour hearing yesterday in Tampa, wrote in a 13-page opinion. He said he refused to order the feeding tube reconnected because he didn't see a "substantial likelihood" that the Schindlers would ultimately succeed on the merits of their case.

And as for the likelihood of Terri Schiavo continuiung to live with the assured support and affection of her parents? Or that Terri is being snuffed out despite the merits of her dignity as a person? Forest missed for the trees.

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