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Terri Schiavo is an American woman whose persistent vegetative state has prompted an ongoing invasion of privacy debate.
In 1990, Schiavo collapsed in her home and suffered irreversible brain damage after her heart stopped beating because of chemical imbalance brought on by an eating disorder. She has been in a vegetative state ever since. She is capable of breathing on her own, but she cannot swallow.
A philosophical battle emerged during the late 1990s between husband Michael Schiavo and Terri's parents. While she had no written will as to what her wishes were, Michael insists that through several conversations they had had, Michael was sure she would want to die. The question "is living in a vegetative state truly living?" emerged in debates on this situation. Protests in Florida began to emerge, urging for "Terri to live," (the conservative stance) and others for the ability for the husband to be able to control the destiny of his wife - the more liberal stance.
Legally, Michael married Terri, and therefore became her 'Guardian' in the event that something happened to her. Terri's parents claim that he wants to murder her, and want to gain guardianship of Terri. Michael could legally sign the guardianship to them, but refuses to do so, claiming he is doing what is best for his wife.
In 2004, Michael Schiavo won a court case to have her feeding tubes removed so that she would die of starvation. Six days later, the Florida Legislature called an emergency session and passed Terri's law, giving Florida Governor Jeb Bush the right to intervene in the case; he immediately ordered the feeding tube reinserted.
On May 19, 2004, Florida Judge W. Douglas Baird overturned the law saying that it "summarily deprived Florida citizens of their right to privacy." Governor Bush appealed the ruling to the United States Supreme Court.
On January 24, 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case, effectively allowing the lower court rulings to stand. The family (along with Jeb Bush) is attempting to appreal this decision, as the U.S. Supreme Court is the most direct chance of winning the case for the parents.
Michael Schiavo claims that she would not have wanted to live as a vegetable, and that he is fighting for her right to die. He is currently living with another woman. As legal guardian of Terri, he has placed strict limits on the time her family is allowed to visit her, and he has refused to allow her to undergo any sort of therapy. During the six days that her feeding tube was removed, he prohibited any attempt to feed her orally, and refused to allow a priest to place a small part of a wafer on her tongue during Communion.
Her parents accuse him of having caused her condition by not seeking help quickly enough after she collapsed. They have recorded video of instances when Terri appears to be at least somewhat aware, able to smile at her mother's voice or touch. They want to bring her home; they maintain that, with therapy, their daughter can be helped.
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