Monday, March 21 2005 17:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: US President George W Bush early today (March 21, 2005) put his signature on a controversial legislation designed to prolong the life of a severely brain-damaged Florida woman whose feeding tube has been removed by court order.

"Today, I signed into law a bill that will allow federal courts to hear a claim by or on behalf of Terri Schiavo for violation of her rights relating to the withholding or withdrawal of food, fluids, or medical treatment necessary to sustain her life," Bush said in a statement.

"In cases 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."

The bill was rushed to the White House for Bush's signature after the US Congress, brushing aside concerns of overstepping its constitutional bounds, gave final approval to the bill shortly after midnight.

With few Democrats willing to mete out what could be interpreted as a death sentence, the House of Representatives voted 203-58 to hand over the fate of the 41-year-old Schiavo, who has been in a persistent vegetative State for the past 15 years, to a federal court. The Senate unanimously passed the same measure late last night.

"We are very, very, very thankful to have crossed this bridge and we are very hopeful, very hopeful that the federal courts will follow the will of Congress and save my sister's life," Suzanne Vitadamo told reporters outside the hospice where her sister lives in Pinellas Park, Florida.