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CNN Live At Daybreak

Final Days for Terri Schiavo?; 'Business Buzz'; Life, Death Questions

Aired March 28, 2005 - 06:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Good Monday morning to you. From the Time Warner center in New York, I'm Kelly Wallace, in today for Carol Costello.
Here is what else we're working on for you this morning.

Will Michael Jackson's past come back to haunt him? We could find out today.

And, do you want to put some F-U-N into your J-O-B? We'll spell out some tips.

But first, here's a look at the stories "Now in the News."

Insurgents target Iraq police this morning with deadly precision. A roadside bomb exploded near a police patrol in Baghdad, killing one Iraqi policeman and wounding five other people, three of them police officers. A short time later, insurgents fatally shot the head of one Baghdad police station and his driver.

Jewish settlers are demonstrating today as members of the Israeli parliament debate the budget that will finance a pullout from the Gaza Strip. The vote on that is tomorrow. And later today, the parliament will vote on a controversial national referendum on that withdrawal plan.

The two space station crewmembers are walking in space this morning. Live pictures again for you. No, these are not live, we're told. And those crewmembers are doing some maintenance work. The two are installing antennas and releasing a satellite named Nanosputnik (ph).

Thunderstorms that rumbled across the Southeast yesterday are heading up the East Coast. The storms brought heavy rains to parts of the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. In Alabama, people said they saw a funnel cloud and had to take cover from hail the size of golf balls.

To Chad Myers in Atlanta now.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WALLACE: And now to our top story. It is now 10 full days since Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed. As she lies on her deathbed, supporters are taking her fight to Washington. The leader of the Christian Defense Coalition plans to go to the capitol today to demand that lawmakers act now to save the brain-damaged woman.

There's disagreement also over Schiavo's condition. A lawyer for her parents say she has passed the point of no return, but their spokesman rejects those remarks, saying Schiavo is not at death's door.

And plans for a final goodbye are also in dispute. Her husband's lawyer says the woman's remains would be cremated and interred in a family plot in Pennsylvania. Her parents want her buried in Florida.

Right now, to get the latest, let's go live to the hospice where Terri Schiavo is being cared for. Our Sean Callebs joins us from the site in Pinellas Park, Florida.

And, Sean, are protesters still out there at this early hour this morning?

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we can tell you that some demonstrators are starting to show up, and there was an arrest just a short while ago, apparently, an individual trying to bring water into Terri Schiavo. It is something we have seen play out over the past 10 days. There have been dozens of arrests for similar type actions over the past several days.

We've talked about those points really highlighting the saga involving Terri Schiavo, and it really gives an indication of just how contentious all of this is.

In a matter of hours, once again, the attention focuses somewhat on Capitol Hill, when Randall Terry (ph), who is acting as a spokesman for the family, takes some other supporters up to Washington, trying to see if lawmakers can do any kind of wrangling at this 11th hour.

But, really, the family has said they have pretty much exhausted all of their legal avenues.

A very somber Easter Sunday for the Schindlers, mother, father, brother and sister of Terri Schiavo. We can tell you their priest held a somewhat spontaneous mass from a street here in front of the hospice, in a somewhat significant event as well. Terri Schiavo was able to receive communion. It was simply one drop of consecrated wine. She did not receive the wafer, symbolizing the body of Christ.

Terri Schiavo did receive communion just before the feeding tube was removed, and courts mandated that she would receive communion one more time before she passes away. Presumably Easter Sunday was the day.

And the Schindler family says it was a very emotional, very important time for them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOBBY SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S BROTHER: We were pleased to be able to give Terri -- the monsignor was able to put some drops of blood, the precious blood of Christ on Terri's lips today. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, and it's Easter Sunday.

SCHINDLER: Easter Sunday.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLEBS: Now, the Schindler family is saying that they have stopped talking to the media, but they did take some time out yesterday to make some comments to the demonstrators.

Now, Bob Schindler, Terri's father, walked out, talking to a number of the demonstrators, really keeping a vigil here almost around the clock, saying how much their support meant to them.

But also, it has been somewhat contentious. The protesters have somewhat been taunting been talking police out here, and the Schindler family asked for them to stop doing that, saying yesterday it is Easter. Spend some time with your family. Go home. But keep Terri in your thoughts and prayers.

And, Kelly, that's the way the evening pretty much wound up here, a bagpiper walking through, the lone strains really echoing on this somewhat empty street late at night. Really a somewhat emotional day for the Schindlers. They're really drained. You can see it. We talked to them a great deal yesterday. The whole ordeal has been very punishing for them.

Michael Schiavo, we should point out as well, has been in the hospice a great deal. He has not been very visible. He hasn't come out and said anything, nor has his lawyers, since Saturday. And the only time the Schindlers go in the hospice is one Michael Schiavo leaves -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Sean, impossible to comprehend what all of the participants are going through in this case. And, Sean, we'll be talking to you at the half-hour with more. Thanks so much. Sean Callebs reporting from Pinellas Park, Florida. Thanks so much.

Supporters of Terri Schiavo's parents say Florida Governor Jeb Bush isn't doing enough to help. They want him to put Terri in state custody.

The governor spoke with CNN's Ed Henry, but said there is little he can do.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: I cannot violate a court order. I don't have powers from the United States Constitution or, for that matter, from the Florida Constitution that would allow me to intervene after a decision has been made.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Some critics are saying that Governor Bush is paying too much attention to polls and not to his conscience. Here's what some of those polls say. This "TIME" magazine poll asked, if people agreed with the decision to remove Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. Fifty-nine percent said yes, while 34 percent said no. The numbers were similar among Evangelicals.

And when asked about intervention, 70 percent said President Bush should not have intervened. And 75 percent said Congress was wrong to step into this case.

More news "Across America Now."

More charges could be filed today against a man accused of abducting and killing a 10-year-old girl in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The body of Jetseta Maria Gage (ph) was found inside the suspect's mobile home one day after her disappearance. Convicted sex offender Robert Paul Bentley (ph) is charged with child stealing, and is being held on $1 million bond.

About 200 people took part in a rally through the streets of Philadelphia to promote non-violence. The riders and marchers called on city and civic leaders to take the lead in stopping gun violence. There have been 86 murders in Philadelphia so far this year, compared with 72 at this time last year.

A Florida man is expected to recover after being bitten in the head by a black mamba snake, the world's most dangerous snake. Its venom can kill a grown man in just seven hours. The man was bitten in his home, where he lives with a licensed snake handler.

And today could be a very big day in the Michael Jackson trial. The judge is expected to hear arguments on whether to allow past molestation allegations into evidence. Jackson was accused but never charged with allegations of abuse in 1993 and 1994.

Jackson, meanwhile, appeared on the radio with Reverend Jesse Jackson to talk about his feelings in this case.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

MICHAEL JACKSON, SINGER: I gain strength from God. I believe in Jehovah God very much, and I gain strength from the fact that I know I'm innocent. None of these stories are true. It's totally fabricated, and it's very sad, and it's very, very painful. And I pray a lot. And that's how I deal with it.

And I'm a strong person. I'm a warrior. And I know what's inside of me. I'm a fighter. It's very painful. At the end of the day I'm still human, you know. I'm still a human being. But it does hurt very, very, very much.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

WALLACE: Michael Jackson in a radio interview this weekend with the Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Jackson's child molestation trial is entering its fifth week. And still ahead on DAYBREAK this hour, a big insurance company says too many of you are getting ripped off, so it's offering some free help. We'll have the details.

Also, it might be the hardest thing you'll ever have to talk to your family about. We'll tell you how to make the conversation a whole lot easier.

And it is a place where life or death decisions are made each and every day. We'll take you inside the world of hospice care.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Monday morning, March 28.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: Welcome back. Your news, money, weather and sports. It is about 15 minutes after the hour, and here is what is all new this morning.

Terri Schiavo's parents are hoping a possible last-ditch effort in Washington can give them some relief. Their spokesman says supporters will urge federal officials to help restore her feeding tube, which was removed on March 18.

The pope blessed the Easter crowd at St. Peter's Square, but he was unable to address them. Because of his health problems, the pope didn't participate in any of the traditional Easter week events.

In money, guess who was tops at the box office? Well, yes, the answer is "Guess Who?" That's the name of the movie starring Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac. That film pulled in $21 million over the weekend.

In culture, it doesn't look good for a Brad and Jen reunion. Former "Friends" star Jennifer Aniston has officially filed for divorce from Brad Pitt. The two separated earlier this year after more than four years of marriage.

And in sports, 61 down, 3 to go. No. 1 seed North Carolina downed Wisconsin to reach the Final Four in the NCAAP tournament. Also moving on in dramatic fashion was Michigan State, which beat Kentucky in double overtime. Louisville also needed overtime to reach the Final Four. The Cardinals overcame a 20-point deficit against West Virginia. And finally, Illinois needed overtime as well, beating Arizona to reach their first Final Four since 1989.

To Atlanta and Chad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WALLACE: Well, when DAYBREAK continues here on CNN, a big insurance company is getting involved in the battle against identity theft. You'll want to hear all about that. We'll be right back. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: It's time now for a little "Business Buzz" on this Monday morning.

Identity theft is a major worry for many Americans, but now MetLife if offering its policyholders some help.

Carrie Lee is here to explain. This sounds like a good thing.

CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: It's a good thing and it's a very big deal, because it's coming from MetLife, which is one of the biggest insurers out there. This week, they're rolling out a program to help all of their customers -- they have nearly a million customers -- resolve cases of identity theft.

According to the Associated Press, the program is going to start in New York and Florida, and then expand nationwide. And even though most insurance companies do offer some identity theft coverage to reimburse costs, MetLife is actually going a step further.

No. 1, this program is free. So, of course, that's a good thing. No. 2, they're actually going to help customers fix the problems. Research shows people need help and assistance more than they actually need reimbursement. And a lot of people don't know where to start.

So, MetLife is going to do things like preparing affidavits, also becoming -- contacting some of the creditors, things that they need to do to really help people resolve the problem. Identity theft, in fact, was the No. 1 topping the list of frauds reported by the Federal Trade Commission. So, this will be a good thing for people.

WALLACE: And other insurers could follow suit.

LEE: And hopefully they will, because a lot of big credit reporting companies, companies in this business, have reported their systems recently -- you've probably heard these stories -- have been broken into. So, it is a problem, and they need to do what they can to combat it.

WALLACE: And looking at the world of business, how are futures looking today?

LEE: Yes. Futures are looking up a bit. And that's good news for the bulls, because over the past three consecutive weeks of losses on the Dow, the industrials have lost over 500 points. So, if we can (UNINTELLIGIBLE), we'll be happy with that.

WALLACE: A lot of people will be happy about that indeed.

LEE: Yes.

WALLACE: Carrie Lee, nice to see you in person here.

LEE: My pleasure. Thank you.

WALLACE: Thanks so much. And when DAYBREAK continues on this Monday morning, the Terri Schiavo case, a story that we've been following, it has people everywhere talking about what they would do and also about living wills. Up next, a guide to end-of-life discussions, what you need to make sure your family knows. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: And in those very delicate medical situations, just who decides when the end of life has arrived? That is the cover story of this week's "TIME" magazine on newsstands today. "TIME" explores the lessons learned from the battle over Terri Schiavo and the strong believes on both sides about her right to live or die.

But what about your right to live or die? And do you have a living will?

Terri Schiavo's long ordeal should convince anyone to discuss end-of-life issues with family members.

Susan Piver can tell us how to start that discussion with our loved ones. She is the author of this book, "The Hard Questions For an Authentic Life." Susan Piver joins us live from Boston.

Susan Piver, thanks for being with us today. We appreciate it.

SUSAN PIVER, AUTHOR: Thank you.

WALLACE: The first question to you. Why is it so difficult for all of us to have these discussions with our loved ones?

PIVER: Well, none of us want to accept the fact that we're going to lose the people we love, and I think often we think if we talk about these things, we could cause them to happen. But that's just not so.

And as life expectancy increases and medical technologies for prolonging life become more sophisticated, the likelihood that we're going to have to face an issue like this really becomes much greater for us than for generations past.

WALLACE: And you lay out a number of very important questions, again the hard questions you call them. One of them, what if you can't make your own decisions? What is the advice there?

PIVER: Yes, it's very important to ask your loved ones if you are unable to make health care decisions for yourself, whom would you like to make them for you? And it's important to choose someone who you think can really understand your wishes in a very profound way, and also someone who you can trust to be strong for you should the need arise.

WALLACE: Another question, and this one is getting a lot of attention over, of course, the case of Terri Schiavo. Do you have a living will? Talk about that. PIVER: Yes, it's very important to ask all family members if they have one, and if they do, great. And if not, what plans can we make to have one. And in the meantime, what can you tell me about your thoughts about living with pain or prolonging life under various circumstances?

But I want to point out that a living will is a document, which is obviously very important to have. But a health care proxy, the person you appoint to make decisions for you, can be there in real- time situations should uncertainty arise or chaos ensue. So, it's really, really important to have both.

WALLACE: And this is another one, again, getting a lot of attention. What are the circumstances for a do-not-resuscitate order, a DNR order?

PIVER: Yes, that's a very delicate question, but an important question to ask. Under what circumstances, if any, would you want a do-not-resuscitate order followed? And that means if your heart or lungs fail, would you want to receive CPR or not? And, of course, we might think, well, sure, who wouldn't? But if you're very old or you're at the end stage of a very serious illness, that might actually cause more stress, more difficulty, and add to your suffering.

WALLACE: And also it comes down to also where would you like to die, at a hospital, a hospice or in your own home?

PIVER: Yes. And, you know, we might make assumptions about our family members. Well, of course, they'd like to be at home or they'd like to be in a hospital where they can minimize pain. But actually, until we discuss it with our loved ones, we don't really know what their preference is, or we might be surprised. So, it's important to ask that question in a pointed but obviously a delicate and sort of warm way.

WALLACE: All right, Susan Piver, important information, and your book also talking about the financial, emotional and spiritual questions and issues that we should all talk about. Thanks so much. The author of "The Hard Questions for an Authentic Life." We appreciate you sharing this important information with us today.

PIVER: Thank you very much.

WALLACE: And we've still got much more ahead on the Terri Schiavo case. We'll go live to the Florida hospice to talk about what, if any, options are left for the woman lying inside.

Also ahead, we'll look more closely at hospices, what kinds of patients they see and what kind of care they provide.

This is DAYBREAK. We'll be right back.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.


Aired March 28, 2005 - 06:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Good Monday morning to you. From the Time Warner center in New York, I'm Kelly Wallace, in today for Carol Costello.
Here is what else we're working on for you this morning.

Will Michael Jackson's past come back to haunt him? We could find out today.

And, do you want to put some F-U-N into your J-O-B? We'll spell out some tips.

But first, here's a look at the stories "Now in the News."

Insurgents target Iraq police this morning with deadly precision. A roadside bomb exploded near a police patrol in Baghdad, killing one Iraqi policeman and wounding five other people, three of them police officers. A short time later, insurgents fatally shot the head of one Baghdad police station and his driver.

Jewish settlers are demonstrating today as members of the Israeli parliament debate the budget that will finance a pullout from the Gaza Strip. The vote on that is tomorrow. And later today, the parliament will vote on a controversial national referendum on that withdrawal plan.

The two space station crewmembers are walking in space this morning. Live pictures again for you. No, these are not live, we're told. And those crewmembers are doing some maintenance work. The two are installing antennas and releasing a satellite named Nanosputnik (ph).

Thunderstorms that rumbled across the Southeast yesterday are heading up the East Coast. The storms brought heavy rains to parts of the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. In Alabama, people said they saw a funnel cloud and had to take cover from hail the size of golf balls.

To Chad Myers in Atlanta now.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WALLACE: And now to our top story. It is now 10 full days since Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed. As she lies on her deathbed, supporters are taking her fight to Washington. The leader of the Christian Defense Coalition plans to go to the capitol today to demand that lawmakers act now to save the brain-damaged woman.

There's disagreement also over Schiavo's condition. A lawyer for her parents say she has passed the point of no return, but their spokesman rejects those remarks, saying Schiavo is not at death's door.

And plans for a final goodbye are also in dispute. Her husband's lawyer says the woman's remains would be cremated and interred in a family plot in Pennsylvania. Her parents want her buried in Florida.

Right now, to get the latest, let's go live to the hospice where Terri Schiavo is being cared for. Our Sean Callebs joins us from the site in Pinellas Park, Florida.

And, Sean, are protesters still out there at this early hour this morning?

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we can tell you that some demonstrators are starting to show up, and there was an arrest just a short while ago, apparently, an individual trying to bring water into Terri Schiavo. It is something we have seen play out over the past 10 days. There have been dozens of arrests for similar type actions over the past several days.

We've talked about those points really highlighting the saga involving Terri Schiavo, and it really gives an indication of just how contentious all of this is.

In a matter of hours, once again, the attention focuses somewhat on Capitol Hill, when Randall Terry (ph), who is acting as a spokesman for the family, takes some other supporters up to Washington, trying to see if lawmakers can do any kind of wrangling at this 11th hour.

But, really, the family has said they have pretty much exhausted all of their legal avenues.

A very somber Easter Sunday for the Schindlers, mother, father, brother and sister of Terri Schiavo. We can tell you their priest held a somewhat spontaneous mass from a street here in front of the hospice, in a somewhat significant event as well. Terri Schiavo was able to receive communion. It was simply one drop of consecrated wine. She did not receive the wafer, symbolizing the body of Christ.

Terri Schiavo did receive communion just before the feeding tube was removed, and courts mandated that she would receive communion one more time before she passes away. Presumably Easter Sunday was the day.

And the Schindler family says it was a very emotional, very important time for them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOBBY SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S BROTHER: We were pleased to be able to give Terri -- the monsignor was able to put some drops of blood, the precious blood of Christ on Terri's lips today. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, and it's Easter Sunday.

SCHINDLER: Easter Sunday.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLEBS: Now, the Schindler family is saying that they have stopped talking to the media, but they did take some time out yesterday to make some comments to the demonstrators.

Now, Bob Schindler, Terri's father, walked out, talking to a number of the demonstrators, really keeping a vigil here almost around the clock, saying how much their support meant to them.

But also, it has been somewhat contentious. The protesters have somewhat been taunting been talking police out here, and the Schindler family asked for them to stop doing that, saying yesterday it is Easter. Spend some time with your family. Go home. But keep Terri in your thoughts and prayers.

And, Kelly, that's the way the evening pretty much wound up here, a bagpiper walking through, the lone strains really echoing on this somewhat empty street late at night. Really a somewhat emotional day for the Schindlers. They're really drained. You can see it. We talked to them a great deal yesterday. The whole ordeal has been very punishing for them.

Michael Schiavo, we should point out as well, has been in the hospice a great deal. He has not been very visible. He hasn't come out and said anything, nor has his lawyers, since Saturday. And the only time the Schindlers go in the hospice is one Michael Schiavo leaves -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Sean, impossible to comprehend what all of the participants are going through in this case. And, Sean, we'll be talking to you at the half-hour with more. Thanks so much. Sean Callebs reporting from Pinellas Park, Florida. Thanks so much.

Supporters of Terri Schiavo's parents say Florida Governor Jeb Bush isn't doing enough to help. They want him to put Terri in state custody.

The governor spoke with CNN's Ed Henry, but said there is little he can do.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: I cannot violate a court order. I don't have powers from the United States Constitution or, for that matter, from the Florida Constitution that would allow me to intervene after a decision has been made.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Some critics are saying that Governor Bush is paying too much attention to polls and not to his conscience. Here's what some of those polls say. This "TIME" magazine poll asked, if people agreed with the decision to remove Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. Fifty-nine percent said yes, while 34 percent said no. The numbers were similar among Evangelicals.

And when asked about intervention, 70 percent said President Bush should not have intervened. And 75 percent said Congress was wrong to step into this case.

More news "Across America Now."

More charges could be filed today against a man accused of abducting and killing a 10-year-old girl in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The body of Jetseta Maria Gage (ph) was found inside the suspect's mobile home one day after her disappearance. Convicted sex offender Robert Paul Bentley (ph) is charged with child stealing, and is being held on $1 million bond.

About 200 people took part in a rally through the streets of Philadelphia to promote non-violence. The riders and marchers called on city and civic leaders to take the lead in stopping gun violence. There have been 86 murders in Philadelphia so far this year, compared with 72 at this time last year.

A Florida man is expected to recover after being bitten in the head by a black mamba snake, the world's most dangerous snake. Its venom can kill a grown man in just seven hours. The man was bitten in his home, where he lives with a licensed snake handler.

And today could be a very big day in the Michael Jackson trial. The judge is expected to hear arguments on whether to allow past molestation allegations into evidence. Jackson was accused but never charged with allegations of abuse in 1993 and 1994.

Jackson, meanwhile, appeared on the radio with Reverend Jesse Jackson to talk about his feelings in this case.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

MICHAEL JACKSON, SINGER: I gain strength from God. I believe in Jehovah God very much, and I gain strength from the fact that I know I'm innocent. None of these stories are true. It's totally fabricated, and it's very sad, and it's very, very painful. And I pray a lot. And that's how I deal with it.

And I'm a strong person. I'm a warrior. And I know what's inside of me. I'm a fighter. It's very painful. At the end of the day I'm still human, you know. I'm still a human being. But it does hurt very, very, very much.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

WALLACE: Michael Jackson in a radio interview this weekend with the Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Jackson's child molestation trial is entering its fifth week. And still ahead on DAYBREAK this hour, a big insurance company says too many of you are getting ripped off, so it's offering some free help. We'll have the details.

Also, it might be the hardest thing you'll ever have to talk to your family about. We'll tell you how to make the conversation a whole lot easier.

And it is a place where life or death decisions are made each and every day. We'll take you inside the world of hospice care.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Monday morning, March 28.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: Welcome back. Your news, money, weather and sports. It is about 15 minutes after the hour, and here is what is all new this morning.

Terri Schiavo's parents are hoping a possible last-ditch effort in Washington can give them some relief. Their spokesman says supporters will urge federal officials to help restore her feeding tube, which was removed on March 18.

The pope blessed the Easter crowd at St. Peter's Square, but he was unable to address them. Because of his health problems, the pope didn't participate in any of the traditional Easter week events.

In money, guess who was tops at the box office? Well, yes, the answer is "Guess Who?" That's the name of the movie starring Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac. That film pulled in $21 million over the weekend.

In culture, it doesn't look good for a Brad and Jen reunion. Former "Friends" star Jennifer Aniston has officially filed for divorce from Brad Pitt. The two separated earlier this year after more than four years of marriage.

And in sports, 61 down, 3 to go. No. 1 seed North Carolina downed Wisconsin to reach the Final Four in the NCAAP tournament. Also moving on in dramatic fashion was Michigan State, which beat Kentucky in double overtime. Louisville also needed overtime to reach the Final Four. The Cardinals overcame a 20-point deficit against West Virginia. And finally, Illinois needed overtime as well, beating Arizona to reach their first Final Four since 1989.

To Atlanta and Chad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WALLACE: Well, when DAYBREAK continues here on CNN, a big insurance company is getting involved in the battle against identity theft. You'll want to hear all about that. We'll be right back. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: It's time now for a little "Business Buzz" on this Monday morning.

Identity theft is a major worry for many Americans, but now MetLife if offering its policyholders some help.

Carrie Lee is here to explain. This sounds like a good thing.

CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: It's a good thing and it's a very big deal, because it's coming from MetLife, which is one of the biggest insurers out there. This week, they're rolling out a program to help all of their customers -- they have nearly a million customers -- resolve cases of identity theft.

According to the Associated Press, the program is going to start in New York and Florida, and then expand nationwide. And even though most insurance companies do offer some identity theft coverage to reimburse costs, MetLife is actually going a step further.

No. 1, this program is free. So, of course, that's a good thing. No. 2, they're actually going to help customers fix the problems. Research shows people need help and assistance more than they actually need reimbursement. And a lot of people don't know where to start.

So, MetLife is going to do things like preparing affidavits, also becoming -- contacting some of the creditors, things that they need to do to really help people resolve the problem. Identity theft, in fact, was the No. 1 topping the list of frauds reported by the Federal Trade Commission. So, this will be a good thing for people.

WALLACE: And other insurers could follow suit.

LEE: And hopefully they will, because a lot of big credit reporting companies, companies in this business, have reported their systems recently -- you've probably heard these stories -- have been broken into. So, it is a problem, and they need to do what they can to combat it.

WALLACE: And looking at the world of business, how are futures looking today?

LEE: Yes. Futures are looking up a bit. And that's good news for the bulls, because over the past three consecutive weeks of losses on the Dow, the industrials have lost over 500 points. So, if we can (UNINTELLIGIBLE), we'll be happy with that.

WALLACE: A lot of people will be happy about that indeed.

LEE: Yes.

WALLACE: Carrie Lee, nice to see you in person here.

LEE: My pleasure. Thank you.

WALLACE: Thanks so much. And when DAYBREAK continues on this Monday morning, the Terri Schiavo case, a story that we've been following, it has people everywhere talking about what they would do and also about living wills. Up next, a guide to end-of-life discussions, what you need to make sure your family knows. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: And in those very delicate medical situations, just who decides when the end of life has arrived? That is the cover story of this week's "TIME" magazine on newsstands today. "TIME" explores the lessons learned from the battle over Terri Schiavo and the strong believes on both sides about her right to live or die.

But what about your right to live or die? And do you have a living will?

Terri Schiavo's long ordeal should convince anyone to discuss end-of-life issues with family members.

Susan Piver can tell us how to start that discussion with our loved ones. She is the author of this book, "The Hard Questions For an Authentic Life." Susan Piver joins us live from Boston.

Susan Piver, thanks for being with us today. We appreciate it.

SUSAN PIVER, AUTHOR: Thank you.

WALLACE: The first question to you. Why is it so difficult for all of us to have these discussions with our loved ones?

PIVER: Well, none of us want to accept the fact that we're going to lose the people we love, and I think often we think if we talk about these things, we could cause them to happen. But that's just not so.

And as life expectancy increases and medical technologies for prolonging life become more sophisticated, the likelihood that we're going to have to face an issue like this really becomes much greater for us than for generations past.

WALLACE: And you lay out a number of very important questions, again the hard questions you call them. One of them, what if you can't make your own decisions? What is the advice there?

PIVER: Yes, it's very important to ask your loved ones if you are unable to make health care decisions for yourself, whom would you like to make them for you? And it's important to choose someone who you think can really understand your wishes in a very profound way, and also someone who you can trust to be strong for you should the need arise.

WALLACE: Another question, and this one is getting a lot of attention over, of course, the case of Terri Schiavo. Do you have a living will? Talk about that. PIVER: Yes, it's very important to ask all family members if they have one, and if they do, great. And if not, what plans can we make to have one. And in the meantime, what can you tell me about your thoughts about living with pain or prolonging life under various circumstances?

But I want to point out that a living will is a document, which is obviously very important to have. But a health care proxy, the person you appoint to make decisions for you, can be there in real- time situations should uncertainty arise or chaos ensue. So, it's really, really important to have both.

WALLACE: And this is another one, again, getting a lot of attention. What are the circumstances for a do-not-resuscitate order, a DNR order?

PIVER: Yes, that's a very delicate question, but an important question to ask. Under what circumstances, if any, would you want a do-not-resuscitate order followed? And that means if your heart or lungs fail, would you want to receive CPR or not? And, of course, we might think, well, sure, who wouldn't? But if you're very old or you're at the end stage of a very serious illness, that might actually cause more stress, more difficulty, and add to your suffering.

WALLACE: And also it comes down to also where would you like to die, at a hospital, a hospice or in your own home?

PIVER: Yes. And, you know, we might make assumptions about our family members. Well, of course, they'd like to be at home or they'd like to be in a hospital where they can minimize pain. But actually, until we discuss it with our loved ones, we don't really know what their preference is, or we might be surprised. So, it's important to ask that question in a pointed but obviously a delicate and sort of warm way.

WALLACE: All right, Susan Piver, important information, and your book also talking about the financial, emotional and spiritual questions and issues that we should all talk about. Thanks so much. The author of "The Hard Questions for an Authentic Life." We appreciate you sharing this important information with us today.

PIVER: Thank you very much.

WALLACE: And we've still got much more ahead on the Terri Schiavo case. We'll go live to the Florida hospice to talk about what, if any, options are left for the woman lying inside.

Also ahead, we'll look more closely at hospices, what kinds of patients they see and what kind of care they provide.

This is DAYBREAK. We'll be right back.

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