It's been almost two decades since Terri Shiavo's death sparked conversations about advocating for people who are medically vulnerable.
ST. LANDRY PARISH, La. (KLFY)-- In St. Landry Parish, author and right-to-life advocate Bobby Schindler continues to share his message of helping people with injuries who are not able to speak or advocate for themselves. His mission started nearly 20 years ago when a Florida judge allowed his sister, Terri Shiavo, to have her feeding tube removed, ultimately leading to her death.
It's been almost two decades since Terri Shiavo's death sparked conversations about advocating for people who are medically vulnerable. Being Shiavo's brother and president of the Terri Shiavo Life & Hope Network, Schindler said as long as there are people who are facing what his sister went through, he will continue being an advocate.
Terri Shiavo suffered a brian injury back in 1990 which caused her to become disable and viewed as being in a persistent vegetative state. Schindler, said because of her injury, Shiavo required a feeding tube to live. In 2005, Shiavo's husband, Michael Shiavo requested her feeding tube be taken out although she showed some signs of improvement. Two weeks later, Terri Shiavo died from starvation.
"After she died, our family started a nonprofit working as patient advocates," Schindler said. "In the past 20 years, we've been involved in thousands of cases trying to help families get through their crisis."
Schindler said when his sister's feeding tube was taken out, his family felt powerless in helping her because her husband was her guardian. Schindler and his family wanted medical responsibility of his sister, but could not get it. Because of this, Schindler advocates for those who cannot advocate for themselves and said people should have someone they trust is going to speak up for them as their advocate.
"If you're ever unable to speak for yourself and you do that through a durable power of attorney, you identify someone that will speak for you so so they can make that decision in case you can't," he said.
Schindler said if there's anyone in the position similar to what he and his family experienced to reach out to the Terri Schiavo Life and Hope Network.
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