Press Release For Immediate Release 8/23/2004 12.00 PM (GMT-5)

Contact: Pamela F. Hennessy Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation 727-445-1766 phenn@zimp.org

 

 

Pinellas County, FL – Long time broadcaster and health advocate, Peter Kawaja this week issued a release, blasting the treatment of Terri Schindler-Schiavo as Terrorism in America.

 

In his three-page release, Kawaja states that Terri Schiavo is “being held captive against her will” and has been “terrorized for 14 years” by her guardian and the court.

 

In September of 2003, Judge George Greer of Pinellas-Pasco’s Sixth Judicial Circuit ordered for a second time that Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube could be removed, causing a dehydration and starvation death over the course of several days.

 

Since 1993, Terri’s parents, Bob and Mary Schindler have sought to have Terri’s husband, Michael Schiavo, removed as her guardian, citing neglect and lack of therapy. They have been unsuccessful in their legal attempts to remove Michael and in 1998, Michael petitioned the courts to remove Terri’s food and fluids. He testified that she would not want artificial means to survive.

 

Schiavo’s petition to the courts came nearly a year before the removal of food and fluids were legal under Florida law. Additionally, Terri Schiavo had no written medical directive or advanced directive, which is required prior to the removal of food and fluids.

 

In his release, Kawaja goes on to say that “Governmental figures and the courts accept and enforce her estranged husband’s claims that ‘she wants to die’. Yet, for 14 years, she has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that she wants to live.”

 

Michael Schiavo has been living with another woman for the past nine years and has fathered two children by her. It has been argued, among other things, that this creates a personal conflict of interest and disqualifies him to serve as Terri’s legal guardian.

 

On August 31, 2004, the Supreme Court of the State of Florida will hear oral arguments in the case of Schiavo v Bush. This case argues the constitutionality of “Terri’s Law”, the law that spared her life in October of 2004, after she had been denied food and fluids for 7 days.

 

Peter Kawaja is currently the host of Highway 2 Health, an internet broadcast dealing with healthcare and ethical issues and is part of the Tropic Wave Radio group of broadcasters.  Wednesday, August 25th, 2004 @ 10:00 PM Eastern - Highway 2 Health will host a two-hour open Teleconference and Radio Simulcast in support of Terri's "right to live". Those wishing to participate should call-in. The webcast can also be heard worldwide. Full details are available at H2H website: www.highway2health.net