MADISON, Wis. -- Pro-Life Wisconsin is backing off some controversial comments made in a press release concerning the death of Marine Staff Sgt. Chad Jerome Simon, 32, of Monona.

Simon suffered severe head injuries in a bombing in Iraq last November and died Aug. 4 at a HospiceCare facility. His feeding tube was removed about two weeks before he died. His wife said she was carrying out the wishes of his living will.

Lawyers for HospiceCare, Inc. notified Pro-Life Wisconsin Friday, objecting to what they consider defamatory statements in the release -- specifically a statement saying, "Simon was rendered handicapped by the bomb in Iraq ... he was murdered by those who were in charge of his medical care."

The hospice care lawyers said if a retraction wasn't made by Friday, they would pursue other remedies. Pro-Life Wisconsin took the release off its Web site and released a revised press release Friday afternoon, deleting the reference to murder, saying instead, "Sgt. Simon ... died as a result of having food and water intentionally withheld."

HospiceCare officials told News 3 Monday the changed statement is "tasteless and an unfounded attack on the grieving widow of a war hero," but it is not defamatory. HospiceCare officials said they will not bring legal action out of respect for Chad Simon and his family.