Right-to-die woman's fate unclear

Mr Schiavo says his wife does not want to be kept alive artificially

The fate of a brain-damaged US woman remains in the balance after Congress failed to agree legislation to prevent the removal of her feeding tube.

Senators failed to back a lower house bill to keep Terri Schiavo, 41, alive.

A house committee is expected to issue a subpoena, but it is not clear whether it will stop the removal of the tube at 1300 Florida time (1800 GMT).

Mrs Schiavo's parents have been locked in a legal battle with her husband, who wants her to be allowed to die.

Michael Schiavo, who is his wife's legal guardian, has said his wife would not want to be kept alive in her current condition.

Florida courts have so far rejected efforts by the parents to stop the feeding tube from being removed.

And the US Supreme Court has refused to step in to rule on a fresh appeal from her parents to intervene in the case.

In instances like this one, where there are serious questions and substantial doubts, our society, our laws and our courts should have a presumption in favour of life George W Bush Timeline: Schiavo case

Even if the tube is removed, Mrs Schiavo - who has been an invalid since 1990 - will not die immediately, doctors say.

The case has galvanised activists from both sides of the euthanasia debate.

President George W Bush said the case of Terri Schiavo raised complex issues.

"Yet in instances like this one, where there are serious questions and substantial doubts, our society, our laws and our courts should have a presumption in favour of life," Mr Bush said.

Fight 'not over'

The US House of Representatives passed a bill late on Wednesday night which allows all patients in a persistent vegetative state to be kept alive unless they had left specific instructions against this.

Thursday's bill approved in the Senate is much narrower - it would give Ms Schiavo's parents access to a federal court but not apply in other cases.

Congress was due to go into recess but may instead meet on Monday to resume discussion on the issue.

After the failure of the two houses to reconcile their bills, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Majority Leader Tom DeLay, and Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis issued a statement to stop the removal of the tube.

"We will issue a subpoena which will require hospice administrators and attending physicians to preserve nutrition and hydration for Terri Schiavo to allow Congress to fully understand the procedures and practices that are currently keeping her alive," they said, quoted by the Associated Press news agency.

"This inquiry should give hope to Terri, her parents and friends, and the millions of people throughout the world who are praying for her safety. This fight is not over," they said.

Mrs Schiavo suffered brain damage after her heart stopped because of a chemical imbalance believed to have been brought on by an eating disorder.

A number of doctors say she is in a persistent vegetative state and is unlikely to recover.