Further blow for Schiavo parents

Supporters of Terri Schiavo's parents are unlikely to throw in the towel

A judge in Florida has rejected an effort by the state authorities to take temporary custody of brain-damaged Terri Schiavo.

The decision - later upheld by the Florida supreme court - means Mrs Schiavo's parents have all but failed in their attempt to keep her alive.

Mrs Schiavo's feeding tube was removed last week after her husband argued in court she should be allowed to die.

The US Supreme Court on Thursday declined to review the case.

Without nourishment, the 41-year-old patient is expected to die in the coming days.

One-page ruling

Her husband says she in a vegetative state and does not want to be artificially kept alive. Her parents disagree.

TERRI SCHIAVO CASE Feb 1990: Mrs Schiavo collapses May 1998: Mr Schiavo files petition to remove feeding tube, triggering legal battle Feb 2000: Court rules to remove feeding tube Oct 2003: Florida's lower house passes "Terri's Law", allowing governor to order doctors to feed Mrs Schiavo Sept 2004: Florida Supreme Court strikes down law 18 Mar 2005: Florida court again allows removal of tube 22 Mar 2005: Federal judge turns down parents' appeal 23 Mar 2005: Appeals court backs federal ruling 24 Mar 2005: Supreme Court refuses appeal Timeline: Terri Schiavo case

Florida Governor Jeb Bush - who supports the parents - argued in his request to have her placed into state custody that Mrs Schiavo was not in a persistent vegetative state.

But Circuit Judge George Greer said the petition had been brought solely to circumvent the court's earlier judgement in favour of the husband.

The BBC's James Coomarasamy in Washington says the chances of Mrs Schiavo's life being saved are now rapidly dwindling, but as long as she is alive her parents and their supporters are unlikely to throw in the towel.

Earlier US Supreme Court justices issued a one-page ruling refusing to hear the appeal by Mrs Schiavo's parents.

The justices made no comment and did not outline any justification for their refusal.

Terri Schiavo suffered brain damage in 1990 when her heart stopped briefly because of a chemical imbalance believed to have been brought on by an eating disorder.