His lawyer says Terri Schiavo's husband may not take part in the latest appeal of his efforts to pull her feeding tube.
By WILLIAM R. LEVESQUE
Published November 2, 2004
ST. PETERSBURG - Michael Schiavo is threatening to effectively end his legal battle to remove the feeding tube that has kept his wife, Terri Schiavo, alive for 14 years.
George Felos, Michael Schiavo's attorney, said Monday that Schiavo may not participate if the 2nd District Court of Appeal considers a request from Terri Schiavo's parents.
The parents want a hearing to decide whether comments by Pope John Paul II earlier this year would have led Terri Schiavo, as a devout Catholic, to oppose the removal of her feeding tube.
Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George Greer has ruled that Schiavo cannot remove his wife's tube until the appeals court decides the appeal, a process that could take days or months.
Felos has asked the appeals court to lift Greer's ruling. If it refuses, Felos said, "Mr. Schiavo is seriously considering just simply not participating in appellate proceedings."
Felos acknowledged that might lead the courts to side with Schiavo's parents by default, a move that could lead to the courts finding that Terri Schiavo would want to live.
"That's a potential net effect," said Felos. "What's his alternative otherwise? His alternative is participating in a shell game in which he continually wins but the case is never concluded."
David Gibbs III, an attorney representing Bob and Mary Schindler, Terri Schiavo's parents, could not be reached for comment late Monday.
Terri Schiavo collapsed in 1990 from a chemical imbalance possibly caused by an eating disorder. Her husband said she had made statements before then saying she would not want to be kept alive by artificial means.
He has waged a six-year court fight against the Schindlers to end her life.
