Wednesday, March 9, 2005

Terri Schiavo--Hope

Bill sends Schiavo case to Washington

Proposal calls for federal review of cases

By Tamara Lytle
Washington Bureau
Posted March 9 2005

The bitter and protracted fight over the life of Terri Schiavo reached Capitol Hill on Tuesday when two Florida legislators filed a bill that would give the severely brain-damaged woman and others like her access to a special federal court hearing.

Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., and Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Indialantic, said Tuesday that incapacitated patients such as Schiavo should have the same type of federal hearing as Death Row prisoners.

"This legislation is about due process equal protection for disabled individuals like Terri Schiavo," Martinez said. "It ensures Terri has the same federal legal protections as convicted murderers," Martinez said.

Conservative groups hailed the bill.

"In the United States we don't execute people without due process, and we shouldn't execute the incapacitated by starvation," said Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council.

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