Date: 2005-03-20
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. on December 3. 1963. Theresa Marie Schindler was born in Pennsylvania. At the time. I was pregnant with my first child and my beautiful daughter. Danene. was born 5 days later on December 8. She is my best friend and today she. too. is a mom. I certainly can relate to Mr. and Mrs. Schindlers love for their daughter and their passionate fight to keep her alive. Mothers have a precious bond with their daughters. The issues that we are discussing tonight are not becausv those who may speak on one side or the other are right or wrong or prolife or prochoice. The issue here is what Terri would have wanted. It is not what we would want for ourselves or even our loved ones. We should not be secondguessing a patients wishes. That is not what we were elected to Congress to do. nor do I believe that our forefathers would have ever wanted us to be involved. Terri Schiavos constitutional right to make the decision she felt comfortable with is being usurped by her parents and now this Congress by means of this private bill. Jay Wolfson was appointed guardian ad litem for Theresa Marie Schiavo. I know Jay Wolfson and often called upon him when I was a State senator chairing the health care committee. because I knew that he could always give me an impartial review of controversial matters relating to health care. Jay Wolfsons report to Governor Bush and the Sixth Judicial Circuit dated December 1. 2003. reviewed the court testimony and statements made by all family members. It is important to know that the Schindler family members stated that even if Theresa had told them of her intention to have artificial nutrition withdrawn. they would not do it. Throughout this painful and difficult time. these same family members acknowledged that Terri was in an irreversible. persistent vegetative state. Today. I burned up the phone calling health care professionals that I know back in Florida. These are people who make lifeanddeath decisions and realize that the 5yearold video we see on TV of the eye blinking and apparent movements are an involuntary reflexive action known as part of the autonomic nervous system. E 2315 Almost everybody in the health care profession that I spoke to are avid prolife people. but they know the sad facts. Their comments were almost to a person. something to the effect of 15 years of being in a persistent vegetative state is far too long to suffer. To second guess the Florida legislature. Florida courts. and Terris choice is just plain wrong. We should not be engaged in second guessing many neurologists and onsite health care profession always who have seen the patient. performed tests. and attested to the courts that Terri is not going to recover. This is a very difficult decision that I know does not come easily for any Member of this body. It is gut wrenching and reaches deep into our hearts. My daughter. who was born 5 days after Terri Schiavo. is a health care professional. who. when I asked if she would want me to battle to keep a feeding tube in if she had not signed a living will. said to me. and I want the Members to bear in mind that she is a health care professional who deals day in and day out with patients with feeding tubes. but the difference is that they are not in a vegetative state. her response to me was sufficient to help me make up my mind. She said to me. No. Mom. If you really loved me. you would want me to have rest and meet the Lord."