A look at the long legal battle over whether Floridian Terri Schiavo, 41, may be taken off life support.
Feb. 1990: Schiavo suffers brain damage from heart failure.
Feb. 2000: Circuit Judge George W. Greer rules that Schiavo’s feeding tube may be removed, as requested by
her husband.
April 2001: The feeding tube is removed. Two days later, Circuit Judge Frank Quesada orders doctors to
reinsert it.
June 2003: The 2nd District Court of Appeal upholds Greer’s ruling to remove the tube.
Oct.: Gov. Jeb Bush files a federal court brief urging that Schiavo be kept alive.
He is denied.
Doctors remove the feeding tube.
The state legislature passes a bill, called "Terri’s Law," allowing Bush to intervene. He orders the feeding tube
reinserted.
Sept. 2004: Florida’s Supreme Court rules that Terri’s Law is unconstitutional.
Jan. 2005: The U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear the governor’s appeal.
Feb.: Greer grants an emergency stay blocking the removal of Schiavo’s feeding tube. He later sets March 18
as the day the tube may be removed.
Wednesday: House passes legislation to try to block efforts to let Schiavo die.
Thursday: Senate passes separate legislation.
Friday: House committee subpoenas Schiavo and others. Florida judge blocks the subpoenas; U.S. Supreme
Court lets that ruling stand. Feeding tube is removed.
Yesterday: Senate passes legislation giving federal courts jurisdiction in the case.
This Morning: House passes the same bill, sending it to President Bush for his signature.
SOURCES: Associated Press, staff reports
