House to issue subpoena in last minute attempt to save Schiavo

Washington D.C., Mar 17, 2005 / 22:00 pm

Yesterday, the House and Senate struggled to pass a bill agreeable to both groups of lawmakers. While the House managed to pass the Incapacitated Person's Legal Protection Act of 2005, the Senate passed a narrower version of the bill that many fear won't make it to law on time due to the Easter recess. Pro-life leaders are now looking at last minute options to save brain-damaged Terri Schiavo, whose feeding tube is scheduled to be removed at 1:00 EST today.

Members of the House of Representatives, late Thursday evening, issued a statement saying that they would issue subpoena documents to the hospital and hospice workers responsible for the removal of Schiavo’s feeding tube.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Majority Leader Tom DeLay, and Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis issued a joint statement late Thursday describing the group’s plan.

"We will issue a subpoena which will require hospice administrators and attending physicians to preserve nutrition and hydration for Terri Schiavo to allow Congress to fully understand the procedures and practices that are currently keeping her alive," said the statement.

Others are also looking into the subpoena option, including Mike Enzi (R-WI), Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee, who has requested that Schiavo herself testify before his committee.

 

Legally, a subpoena must protect the individual from harm or death until their scheduled appearance.

 

Florida judge George Greer, ruled last month in favor of Terri’s husband, Michael Schiavo, who has been trying to end his wife’s life for years. Terri’s family however, has vowed to fight him every step of the way, even until the last moments. 

Terri’s brother, Bobby Schindler told reporters that his sister “has an incredible will to live. She hasn't given up on us these past 15 years. We're going to do everything we can to try to provide her the help she deserves and get her home and be with her family."