Terri Schiavo and the Florida DCF

It now seems that much of what's keeping Terri Schiavo alive is the investigation by the Florida Department of Children and Families as to whether her husband, Michael Schiavo, abused her during their marriage. Understandably, if he had been physically abusive to her, it might cast some doubt on whether he was the appropriate person to be making life-and-death medical decisions for her. This is, on many levels, very good: the investigation could lead to a potentially permanent solution that not only blocks Michael from having Terri killed, but (presumably) also puts her parents, the Schindlers, in charge of her medical treatment, which might mean that she'd get therapy of some kind and might actually be able to see improvements.

On the other hand, I have to wonder about the DCF. I mean, the allegations (that Michael was abusive to Terri) certainly aren't new. If there's substance to the allegations, why didn't they pursue the investigation at some other point in the last fourteen years? Why did it have to take until the woman was about to be killed before the Department sprang into action? This isn't a movie; there isn't some kind of bonus for a dramatic, last-second rescue.