Between Two Worlds

Today the Senate and House will decide whether or not to pass The Incapacitated Person's Legal Protection Act of 2005, which grants people like Terry Schiavo her due-process rights of habeas corpus when a court orders that their nutrition, hydration, or medical treatment by removed. If the legislation does not pass, Terry will begin starving to death tomorrow.

Mel Martinez, freshman senator from Florida, was the co-author of the legislation. He summarizes it and urges us to act in an op-ed for National Review Online. The easiest way to contact your congressmen is by going here and typing in your address and zip code. Here's what I wrote to be senators and to my represenative. Feel free to copy and paste it as your own.

Dear _____:

I urge you to vote in favor of The Incapacitated Person’s Legal Protection Act of 2005, to grant people like Terry Schiavor the due-process rights of habeas corpus when a court orders their death by removal of nutrition, hydration and medical treatment.

This woman is being deprived of her full constitutional rights, and such legislation would ensure fairness and justice to her and others like her.

Thank you for your consideration, and for serving our state.

Update: The Senate Democrats nixed the bill. WorldMagBlog has the details, as well as the few remaining options for Terry and her parents.