Legal battle abandoned as Schiavo nears death

A WRENCHING dispute over the fate of Terri Schiavo neared its end yesterday as the brain-damaged Florida woman moved closer to death and her parents gave up their long and bitter legal battle to prolong her life.

"I'm not saying we wouldn't be open to any idea that comes up. But at this point, it appears that time has finally run out," David Gibbs, an attorney for Ms Schiavo's parents said.

The tube feeding that has sustained Ms Schiavo for 15 years was halted on March 18 under a state court order, setting off a flurry of efforts to get feeding restored by her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler. The effort brought in the US Congress, US President George W Bush and his brother, Florida Governor Jeb Bush.