Adapted from the Associated Press, Dec 25, 2002
The following is the timeline in the case of Terri Schiavo, who first collapsed and fell into a coma in 1990. The conflict between Terri Schiavo’s parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, began in 1993, and continues to this day. The court bhattle began in 1998, when Michael Schiavo petitioned the court to remove Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube.
- Feb. 25, 1990: Terri Schiavo collapses in her home. Doctors believe a potassium imbalance caused her heart to stop, temporarily cutting off oxygen to her brain.
- Nov. 1992: Terri’s husband, Michael, wins malpractice suit against doctors who he say misdiagnosed his wife; jury awards more than more than $700,000 for her care, Michael receives an additional $300,000.
- Feb. 14, 1993: Terri Schiavo’s parents, Bob and Mary Schindler have a falling out with Michael over the malpractice suit money and Terri’s care.
- July 29, 1993: Bob and Mary Schindler file petition to have Michael Schiavo removed as Terri’s guardian. The case is later dismissed.
- May 1998: Michael Schiavo files petition to remove Terri’s feeding tube.
- Jan. 24, 2000: Trial begins over whether to remove feeding tube.
- Feb. 11, 2000: Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George W. Greer rules feeding tube can be removed.
- Jan. 24, 2001: 2nd District Court of Appeal upholds Greer’s decision.
- March 29, 2001: Greer rules feeding tube to be removed at 1 p.m. April 20.
- April 18, 2001: Florida Supreme Court refuses to intervene in the case.
- April 20, 2001: U.S. District Judge Richard Lazzara grants the Schindlers a stay until April 23 to exhaust appeals.
- April 23, 2001: U.S. Supreme Court refuses to intervene.
- April 24, 2001: Feeding tube is removed from Terri Schiavo.
- April 26, 2001: Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Frank Quesada orders doctors to reinsert Terri’s feeding tube; the Schindlers pursue lawsuit against Michael Schiavo, accusing him of committing perjury by saying his wife did not want to be kept on life support.
- April 30, 2001: Lawyers for Michael Schiavo file emergency motion with an appellate court asking for the court to order removal of Terri’s feeding tube.
- June 25, 2001: 2nd District Court of Appeal hears arguments in case.
- July 11, 2001: 2nd DCA sends case back to Greer, ruling that Terri can’t be taken off life support until after July 23.
- July 18, 2001: Schindlers ask Greer to let their doctors evaluate Terri before making a final decision on removing the feeding tube.
- Aug. 7, 2001: Attorneys receive Greer’s order that the tube be removed Aug. 28.
- Aug. 8, 2001: Schindlers repeat request to Greer to allow their doctors to evaluate Terri.
- Aug. 10, 2001: Greer denies the Schindlers’ evaluation request, as well as their request to remove Michael Schiavo as guardian.
- Sept. 26, 2001: Schindlers’ attorneys argue before 2nd District Court of Appeal, citing testimony from seven doctors who say Terri can recover with the right treatment.
- Oct. 3, 2001: 2nd DCA delays removal of feeding tube indefinitely.
- Oct. 17, 2001: 2nd DCA rules that five doctors can examine Terri to determine whether she has any hope of recovery. Two doctors are picked by the Schindlers, two are picked by Michael Schiavo and one is picked by the court.
- Feb. 13, 2002: Mediation attempts fail; Michael Schiavo again seeks to be allowed to remove Terri’s feeding tube.
- Oct. 12, 2002: Weeklong hearing begins in the case. Three doctors, including the one appointed by the court, testify that Terri is in a persistent, vegetative state with no hope of recovery. The two doctors selected by the Schindlers say she can recover.
- Nov. 12, 2002: The Schindlers’ attorney says medical records suggest Terri’s condition may have been brought on by physical abuse, and asks for more time to get more evidence.
- Nov. 22, 2002: Greer rules that there is no evidence that Terri has any hope of recovery and orders feeding tube to be removed Jan. 3, 2003.
- Dec. 13, 2002: Circuit Judge George W. Greer stays order to remove feeding tube on Jan. 3 until the 2nd District Court of Appeal in Lakeland reviews the case. A date has not been set for the court to hear the case.
- Dec. 25, 2002: The 2nd District Court of Appeals agrees to consider appeal by Schiavo’s parents. Schedules oral arguments for April 4.