Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Terri Schiavo's brother and the final attorney for her family are criticizing some of the leading Republican contenders for president. They say the candidates are ill-informed about the facts surrounding the debate over Terri's life and the reasons behind the legislation Congress approved trying to help prevent her euthanasia death.

During the first GOP primary debate, Schindler family attorney David Gibbs says they demonstrated that they do not understand the important disability issues involved in the 2005 Terri Schiavo case.

In comments on the case, Gov. Mitt Romney said he thought it "was a mistake" for Congress to get involved and the matter should have been left at the state level."

Sen. John McCain said Congress "probably acted too hastily" and former mayor Rudy Giuliani continues to see the matter as merely a "family dispute."

Gibbs says that only Sen. Sam Brownback and Rep. Duncan Hunter, both of whom voted for the bill to allow the Schindler family to take their case to save Terri to federal courts, properly understand the issue.

He told LifeNews.com in a statement that Brownback and Hunter correctly pointed out that "all Congress did was to give Terri a chance to appeal her state death sentence to a federal court and reminding Americans of President Ronald Reagan's admonition to always 'err on the side of life.'"

"America needs to know what really happened to this lady because Terri's death by dehydration should never have been permitted in a civilized society," Gibbs explained. "These candidates must understand the truth because if elected, they will be making policies that impact all of us."

Bobby Schindler, Terri's brother, agreed, and told LifeNews.com that his sister's case "was not about someone's 'right-to-die', nor was it an 'end-of-life' issue as was so often reported."

"Instead, heinous criminals on death row have more protection and are treated with more dignity than people like Terri. Congress saw this and intervened to protect her," he explained.

"Not only was it appropriate for Congress to try and help Terri, but it is what they are morally obligated to do in such cases," Schindler added.

Gibbs has released a video giving an insider's perspective to the life and death of Terri Schiavo. He's made it available at his web site at no cost.

Related web sites:
David Gibbs - http://www.fightingfordearlife.com
Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation - http://www.terrisfight.org