Brain-damaged woman’s feeding tube removed

US doctors last night removed Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube despite an extraordinary, last-minute push by Republicans on Capitol Hill to keep the brain-damaged woman alive.

It is expected it will take one to two weeks for Schiavo to die if the tube is not reinserted. Earlier, a Florida court cleared the way for the feeding tube to be removed.

Following a flurry of legal activity in the courts and in the US Congress, Pinellas Circuit Court Judge George Greer reinstated his order that Terri Schiavo’s food and water be stopped.

Earlier yesterday, US House leaders issued subpoenas for Ms Schiavo, and the Senate called her as a witness to congressional hearings in late bids to stave off the removal of her feeding tube. Pinellas Chief Judge David Demers then issued a temporary stay, blocking the scheduled 1pm (6pm Irish time) removal of the tube. But Judge Greer held an emergency hearing where he denied the congressional committee’s motion to intervene.

Ms Schiavo suffered brain damage in 1990.

Her husband, Michael Schiavo, who is her legal guardian, has won court orders to remove the tube. Florida courts have accepted the testimony of doctors who say she is in a persistent vegetative state with no chance of recovery.

Her parents, Robert and Mary Schindler, have said their daughter responds to them and have fought to prevent the removal of the tube. A statement on their website read: “Terri’s nutrition and hydration have now been withheld from her. It is unclear if the port that accommodates her feeding tube has been surgically removed as her family was ordered to leave her room.”