Schiavo abuse allegations released

CLEARWATER, Fla., March 4 (UPI) -- A petition by a Florida state agency that reveals abuse of a brain-damaged Tampa, Fla., woman has lifted the hopes of advocates trying to save her life.

Circuit Judge George Greer of Clearwater ordered the petition of the Department of Children and Families released Friday, the St. Petersburg Times reported.

The 34-page document is intended to delay the removal of the feeding tube that has been keeping Terri Schiavo alive to provide time for a further investigation of the allegations.

They were made Feb. 18 on an abuse hotline by an unidentified person or group.

The department tried to prevent its release, but Circuit Judge George Greer ordered it made public Friday. A handful of news agencies obtained copies Thursday night.

"The allegations in the abuse reports go to the heart of whether abuse, neglect and/or exploitation has been perpetrated by the guardian such that any any relief afforded by this court to this guardian prior to the conclusion of such investigation would be tragically misplaced," wrote Michael Will, the department's adult protective investigations supervisor.