Judge refuses to restore right-to-die wife's food

A federal judge today refused a request by the parents of a braindamaged Florida woman to restore the feeding tube that was keeping her alive.

At a hearing in Tampa, Florida, District Judge James Whittemore issued a 13-page ruling rejecting a request by Terri Schiavo's parents for the tube, which was removed on Friday under a state court order, to be reinserted pending a fresh review of the case.

Her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, have lodged an appeal.

Mrs Schiavo's plight has split America, with her parents gaining support from the US Congress and President Bush in trying to keep her alive. Her husband and legal guardian, Michael Schiavo, insists that his wife, who was left severely brain-damaged after she collapsed at her Florida home 15 years ago, would not want to carrying on living in her present state. So far the Florida state court has agreed with him. Mrs Schiavo's feeding has been halted and resumed twice in seven years of legal wrangling.

Experts said she could be expected to live for one to two weeks without the feeding tube.

The judge took up the case after the US Congress rushed through a special law on 41-year-old Mrs Schiavo over the weekend. The unusual intervention allowed the Schindlers to take their fight to a federal court.

Judge Whittemore acknowledged the gravity of the consequences in denying the request to restore the tube, but said he was bound to follow the law.