(2005-02-24) — In another move designed to show his love and compassion for his wife, Michael Schiavo today announced he would auction off his guardianship of Terri Schiavo on eBay.

The winner of the auction will be named legal guardian for Mrs. Schiavo, who suffered brain damage during a heart attack in 1990. Under Florida law, the guardian has few responsibilities.

“It’s better than buying a pet,” said Mr. Schiavo. “Legally, you don’t even have to feed her. If you didn’t feed your dog, the authorities would take him away from you.”

The bidding will start at an amount equal to what Mr. Schiavo stands to gain if his wife dies, but he expects it to go much higher due to “excellent name recognition.”

“Money has never been an issue with me,” said Mr. Schiavo, who’s still married to Mrs. Schiavo but lives with a female friend and their two children. “I want what’s best for Terri, and eBay is the best online auction service in the world.”