Home
♦ Contents
♦
Search
♦
Contact Us
About NCPD
♦
News
♦
Issues
♦
Access
♦
Resources
♦
How You Can Help
|
Home
♦ Contents
♦
Search
♦
Contact Us
|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Mary Jane Owen Tel: 202/529-2933 Fax: 202/529-4678
NATIONAL CATHOLIC PARTNERSHIP ON DISABILITY EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT FLORIDA COURT CASE Washington, DC – October 17, 2002: The National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD)* has been a voice for our brothers and sisters with disabilities for two decades, highlighting the gifts which each human life brings into the world. NCPD joins disability advocacy organizations across the nation in opposing the relentless drive by her husband to withdraw food and fluids from his wife, Terri Schindler Schiavo and requests that Judge George Greer of the 6th Judicial Circuit of Pinelias County, Florida carefully consider this particular effort to kill with “compassion.” The ramifications of this case can encourage the advocates of euthanasia and move the nation closer to the elimination of people who live with various disabilities and whose lives are not valued within a utilitarian society. This case is an example of the culture of death’s movement toward elimination of those viewed as living lives “not worthy of life.” Terri’s neurological disability began when she was 26 years old and suffered cardiac arrest with resulting brain damage in 1990. In November 1992, in a trial involving medical malpractice, her husband, Michael Schiavo, requested $20 million for Terri’s future medical needs. He assured the jury, which awarded $9,400,000.00 for Terri’s medical care and rehabilitation, that he would take care of Terri, “in a heartbeat. . . . She’s my life and I wouldn’t trade her for the world. I believe in my wedding vows.” The malpractice jury also awarded Michael $640,000 for loss of consortium of his wife. Less than a year later Mr. Schiavo initiated the first of a long series of threats to his wife’s well being. At his request hydration and nutrition were terminated for 48 hours and were continued only because of her family’s intervention. Such “treatment,” if continued, would have resulted in Terri’s death. This in spite of video-tapes of her interactions and responses which would seem to indicate she is not in a persistent vegetative state. Currently the only accommodation she is receiving as a neurologically disabled individual is tube feeding. NCPD requests that Judge Greer order that any money originally designated for Terri’s rehabilitation be used for that purpose only. Reportedly these funds have been drastically depleted in pursuit of legal and medical testimony from well-known advocates of euthanasia. Mary Jane Owen, Executive Director of NCPD and a disability advocate since 1972 noted, “A particularly frightening outcome of the battle between her husband and his live-in girlfriend and Terri’s family and friends is the statement by a tough advocate of euthanasia and author of “Litigation as Spiritual Practice,” Attorney George J. Felos. In August 2001 he said in describing Terri’s life: “The litmus test is whether a person can bring a spoon to their own mouth.” That “litmus test” for survival would not have been passed by many of my treasured friends over the years. And those of us who live with assorted disabilities are aware that when any of us is deprived of their essential dignity and worth, each of us face that same discounting by the judgments of the culture of death.” Nancy Thompson, chair-elect of NCPD reflected, “Unfortunately this is just one of too many cases in recent months in which the guardians of people with neurological disabilities have the potential to gain financially from the termination of basic medical care as well as potentially helpful rehabilitation.” John Francis Ross, CPA, who works with the NCPD office, in commenting on the case noted, “As a person with cerebral palsy and related neurological impairments, I am personally threatened by the judicial-endorsement of Mr. Schiavo’s actions that appear to be deliberately causing the death of his wife. The missing pieces in the neurological sciences are growing fewer with each succeeding year, and our expanding technological prowess gives us an ever-increasing ability to compensate for existing physical deficits. Given this environment, it is difficult to see how Mr. Schiavo’s decisions are animated by concern for his spouse. Action by the guardian that pursues his own interest in custodial decision-making is opposed to the purpose of the guardianship statute, and this prohibition should be supported by our courts.” Kent A. Peters, STL, who chairs the Board of NCPD and is Director of Social Ministry in the Diocese of San Diego noted, “I understand Mrs. Schiavo’s husband and his live-in girl friend have recently given birth to a daughter, which probably fuels the desire to bring about closure in his ongoing efforts to terminate life-sustaining care for his wife. He has engaged heroes of the ‘right to die’ and culture of death community as both legal and medical advisors, all of whom have been paid from the funds originally given to Terri for her rehabilitation. I understand that a number of physicians, after viewing news footage showing her moving and relating with her mother, have filed affidavits saying that in their judgment Terri still has the potential to profit from appropriate rehabilitation. Unfortunately, this view has been discounted in past court decisions. I join with those individuals and organizations who have stressed the need for preserving the lives of people with neurological disabilities. And in the present instance, this applies to Theresa ‘Terri’ Marie Schiavo.” In 1982 a former staff member of the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities, Janice Benton, began working for NCPD, where she is Director of Programs and Diocesan Relations. She summarized the views of this national Catholic voice, “Many people with various disabilities lack the ability to feed themselves yet live lives with meaning. I think one of the images which enriches our view of Mother Theresa is exactly her honoring and loving those who have lost such physical functions. NCPD must reassure the over 14 million Catholics with disabilities, as well as the millions of additional Americans who live with disabilities, that the Catholic Church is truly pro-life. For make no mistake, it is true that as long as any of our lives are discounted, the inherent value of human life itself is in jeopardy.” * Formerly the National Catholic Office for Persons with Disabilities. # # #
|
Home ♦ Contents ♦ Search ♦ Contact Us ♦ Accessibility at This WebsiteAbout NCPD ♦ Guiding Principles ♦ News & Views ♦ Disability & Church ♦ Disability & Society ♦ Creating Access ♦ Resources ♦ How You Can Help
|