TALLAHASSEE - The House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday postponed voting on a bill inspired by the Terri Schiavo case that would presume an incapacitated person would want tube feeding unless there are specific directions to the contrary.
The bill (PCB JU 04-05) raised too many questions about possible unintended consequences, the committee decided.
Committee members included the legal definition of "incompetent."
Senate President Jim King already has said he is not interested in taking up the bill.
The bill is in response to Schiavo, the brain damaged Pinellas County woman whose husband and parents are battling over whether she should continue receiving nutrition and hydration.
Late last year Schiavo's husband won a court ruling to remove his wife's feeding tube, but legislators passed an emergency bill, signed by Gov. Jeb Bush, overturning the court decision.
