Dramatic day in court over fate of brain-damaged Terri Schiavo prompts more legal wrangling

Protesters, from left, Judy Greer, of Tampa, Fla., Maura Akers, of Clearwater, and Yael Medley, of St. Petersburg, stand outside of the home of Terri Schiavo's husband, Michael Schiavo, background, in Clearwater, Fla., Tuesday, Feb 22, 2005. Pinellas County Circuit judge George Greer issued a last-minute stay in Terri Schiavo's right-to-life case. Terri Schiavo has been in a coma-like state for 15-years. Michael Schiavo is attempting to have her feeding tube removed. (AP Photo/St. Petersburg Times, Scott Keeler)

Associated Press

The 2nd District Court of Appeal allowed a stay to expire Tuesday that had blocked Schiavo's husband from removing her feeding tube. But before the tube could be removed, Pinellas Circuit Court Judge George Greer issued an emergency stay until 5 p.m. EST Wednesday.

"The family is profoundly grateful," said David Gibbs III, an attorney for Terri Schiavo's parents, Robert and Mary Schindler. "They believed God answered their prayers. Their daughter is alive another day."

On Wednesday, Greer is to hear the latest arguments from Schiavo's parents that their son-in-law, Michael, is not fit to be his wife's guardian.

George Felos, Michael Schiavo's attorney, said, "as soon as he's legally authorized, he will discontinue artificial life support." It would likely take several days for Terri Schiavo to die if the tube is pulled.

Doctors have ruled that Terri Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state with no hope for recovery, and would live no more than a week or two without getting food and water through the tube inserted into her abdomen.

Her parents have countered with other medical opinions that the 41-year-old woman who appears to cry, laugh and react to her family might improve with rehabilitation.

If the tube is removed, the development will fall near the 15th anniversary of Terri Schiavo's Feb. 25, 1990 collapse, when a chemical imbalance believed to have been brought on by an eating disorder caused her heart to stop beating and cut off oxygen to her brain.

Terri Schiavo has twice had her tube removed only to have it reinserted in dramatic, last-minute developments.

In October 2003, she went without food or water for six days before Gov. Bush pushed through a new law letting him order the tube be reinserted. The Florida Supreme Court later struck down his action as unconstitutional.

Terri Schiavo's parents say she would not want to die and have offered to take care of her if Michael Schiavo would divorce her.

Michael Schiavo says his wife had expressed wishes not to be kept alive artificially, although she left no written directive. He said he is determined to carry on in the case out of love for his wife.

"This case is about Terri Schiavo's wishes," Felos said. "It's about her wishes not to be forced-fed, her wishes not to be kept alive artificially."