TALLAHASSEE, Fla., June 17, 2005

Schiavo Outraged Over New Probe

Husband Of Late Brain-Dead Woman Blasts Fla. Gov's Probe

  • Play CBS Video Video Fla. Gov Opens Schiavo Probe

    Citing discrepancies in the time it took to get an ambulance to Terri Schiavo 15 years ago, Fla. Gov. Jeb Bush has asked for a criminal probe, Wyatt Andrews reports.

    • Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, left, and Michael Schiavo, right.

      Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, left, and Michael Schiavo, right.  (AP)

    • Terri Schiavo, shown in this 1990 photo, died March 31 from dehydration after her feeding tube was disconnected at her husband's request.

      Terri Schiavo, shown in this 1990 photo, died March 31 from dehydration after her feeding tube was disconnected at her husband's request.  (AP/Schindler Family Photo)

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  • Interactive Life And Death Battle

    Terri Schiavo's husband and parents clash over keeping the brain-damaged woman alive.

  • Interactive The Bush Dynasty

    With roots in Texas and Connecticut, and a couple of glam offshoots, here's the Bush family tree.

(CBS/AP)  The governor's request followed the release Wednesday of an autopsy supporting Michael Schiavo's contention that his wife had been in a persistent vegetative state. The autopsy revealed no evidence that she was strangled or otherwise abused before she collapsed.

It left unanswered the question of why Terri Schiavo's heart stopped, cutting oxygen off from her brain. The autopsy showed she suffered irreversible brain damage and her brain had shrunk to half the normal size for her age.

Bobby Schindler, Schiavo's brother, said Friday his family believes more questions were raised than answered by the autopsy report and that a new legal review is appropriate.

"Anything that can shed some light on the cause of Terri's collapse is going to be welcomed by our family," he said from Bloomington, Minn., where the family is speaking at an anti-abortion convention.

But the request was immediately criticized by some lawmakers.

"Enough is enough," said Democratic Sen. Ron Klein. "I don't want to see it on TV any more, I don't want to hear politicians talk about it. Let her be at peace."

Bush acknowledged in his letter that an investigation may be difficult.

"I understand that these events took place many years ago, and that you may not be able to collect all the relevant records and physical evidence. However, Mrs. Schiavo's family deserves to know anything that can be done to determine the cause and circumstances of her collapse 15 years ago," Bush wrote. "The unanswered questions may be unanswerable, but the attempt should be made."


©MMV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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