THE SCHIAVO MATTER

Neal Boortz ^ | June 16, 2005 | Neal Boortz

[Former Military Chick]

Correct me if I'm wrong .. but when the Terri Schiavo matter was consuming front pages and broadcast news, wasn't the issue whether or not she was reacting to her parents and watching that balloon floating around her room? She should not be allowed to die, people said, because with rehab she would improve and then her family could take her to malls and birthday parties and such.

Well, the autopsy results are in. [full autopsy pdf] There was no way that Terri Schiavo could benefit in any way from rehabilitation therapy. What's more, she had no cognitive abilities. In this context the finding means that Terri could not engage in any conscious intellectual activity. She could not participate in or understand conversations. She could not communicate. She never did try to say "I want to live." She had no awareness or understanding of the state she was in, or of the controversy surrounding her. She could not see, so that rules out those stories of her watching that Mickey Mouse balloon floating around her room. It's safe to say that she was not aware of her own existence on any conscious level.

And what about those beatings that we were all-but assured that Michael Schiavo delivered to Terri Schiavo? A few months ago we were being told that Terri had been strangled by her husband. The autopsy showed no indication whatsoever of any abuse or neglect. We were being told that she had multiple broken bones ... a sure sign that she had been abused, possibly beaten. The autopsy showed no broken bones. The language of the autopsy is clear ... "no fractures."

So ... where did that leave those who were fighting so hard to keep the life form that used to be Terri Schiavo alive? Judging from the coverage of yesterday's events, they have nothing to dwell on now except for the question of how she got into this tragic state in the first place. There must be some way to continue the demonization of Michael Schiavo ... so let's concentrate on what happened to Terri Schiavo in 1990. The autopsy says that she didn't have a heart attack. The autopsy also says that there was no evidence of bulimia. I've heard some commentators say "We now know that it wasn't bulimia." Sorry, that's incorrect. We don't know that. We just know that there was no evidence of bulimia. But we are left with the question of just what happened to cause Terri's collapse. Since the autopsy couldn't tell us, the new story line must be that it was somehow Michael's fault. Terri Schiavo's brother was calling for more questioning of Michael Schiavo yesterday. We at the Boortz show were getting emails saying that the autopsy "proved" that Michael abused Terri. Amazing.

Look .. I understand the emotionalism behind this. I understand that tens of thousands of Americans who have invested themselves so heavily in the anti-choice movement placed the cause of Terri Schiavo at the center of their universe. I also understand that thousands more truly believed that Terri was communicating with her parents and watching balloons float around. They earnestly felt that with rehab treatment Terri would soon return to some semblance of a normal life. They were sure that Terri was aware that the courts were considering whether or not to remove her feeding tube, and somewhere inside she was pleading to be allowed to live. It's tough to admit that you were wrong. Been there many times. You believe something so strongly, only to find out that you were profoundly mistaken. You find out that Terri Schiavo's brain was reduced to half its normal size. She had no cognitive abilities. She was not aware of her own existence. She didn't even know she was alive, and therefore couldn't know that death was a possibility. She wasn't there. All that was left was the remains of the body that once had been Terri Schiavo .. clinging to the last threads of life.

I cannot relate to those who wanted to use artificial means to prolong the life functions of this otherwise useless body for decades more, but I can understand their dedication to life. Yesterday on the show we heard from some people who, in light of the autopsy findings, have changed their minds. They now understand that allowing her body to continue the process of dying was the humane and right thing to do. Others are not emotionally strong enough to accept this reality, and they'll now focus their efforts on Michael Schiavo. They'll now concentrate on trying to prove that he was abusive, though there is no evidence to support that claim.

[Former Military Chick]

One thing is for sure, those who felt Terri was abused will not have their minds changed by the results of this autopsy and those who felt the husband did not do anything wrong feel vindicated.

[EternalVigilance]

Neil, you've lost your everloving mind.

[EternalVigilance]

Look .. I understand the emotionalism behind this. I understand that tens of thousands of Americans who have invested themselves so heavily in the anti-choice movement placed the cause of Terri Schiavo at the center of their universe.

Mr. Boortz's choice of words tells me more about him than I knew previously.

[EternalVigilance]

They now understand that allowing her body to continue the process of dying was the humane and right thing to do.

Neil Boortz sounds just like George Felos.

Who'da thunk it.

If Neil treated his dog the way they treated Terri Schiavo, he'd do some hard time.

[GLDNGUN]

Boortz accuses Terri's supporters of jumping to all sorts of conclusions, then turns around and does the very same thing himself. For Boortz to pretend to know Terri's precise mental state would be laughable if it wasn't so disgusting. He is only trying to rationalize his zeal for having Terri put to death. There is NOTHING in the autopsy that shows Terri deserved to be murdered. In times of doubt, we should err on the side of life. What is so difficult about that? If Terri truly was "gone" already and had absolutely no awareness of her existence, then what harm was done by allowing her to live? Even an old, tired dog isn't put to sleep if someone wants to take it home and care for it. In the abscence of evidence that proved she wouldn't have wanted to live in her condition, her parents should have been allowed to care for her. This was a needless, senseless killing any way you look at it.

[Flux Capacitor]

----Mr. Boortz's choice of words tells me more about him than I knew previously.----

You didn't know Boortz was a baby-killer? Oh, then you've missed out on some choice segments. Boortz makes a point of not even taking calls on abortion, something he usually reminds us about right after defining anybody who opposes the practice as the lowest of jackbooted theocratic scum.

And then there's this. Too bad, really. Boortz talks a great game on so many issues, but the Terri Schiavo matter has served as a valuable illustration of what a sick puppy he is at heart.

-Dan

[backhoe]

Neil Boortz sounds just like George Felos.

For whatever it's worth around here, this was where Boortz Jumped the Shark for me... I wrote a letter to the local station carrying his show, informing them that for as long as he was on, I was tuning out.

I tolerated his abrasive personality, and bigotry against all things religious prior to Terri's fight, because he did talk about subjects people need to know about-- but then, he went too far. No more Boortz in this house or on the road, ever.

[StAnDeliver]

"You find out that Terri Schiavo's brain was reduced to half its normal size. She had no cognitive abilities. She was not aware of her own existence."

"It's tough to admit that you were wrong. Been there many times."

Including this time, Booratz. It's good to see some things never change. I directly challenge any forensic medical credentials you delude yourself into thinking you possess. Be half a man and sign up today to refute me, you Know-Nothing coward.

Girl With Half A Brain Going To College

BRISTOL, Pa. [June 2, 2005] -- A teenage girl has overcome incredible odds after graduating from a Pennsylvania high school with only half a brain...she didn't just have part of her brain removed -- as in ordinary epilepsy surgery -- she literally had half of her brain taken out.

Christina graduated from high school with honors in June.

"I'm seizure free. No medication or anything. I drive, I'm going to college in August and I'm very happy," Christina said. "I'm just so thankful for having a second chance at life."

[E=MC²]

Yeah, mikey was only trying to lovingly honor his wife's wish (that he claims they discussed once with no written proof) to not live like a vegetable (after 15 years of adapting to life like a vegetable), plus, apparently, also her wishes

• to die by dehydration and starvation over a two week period in a hospice death factory
• to have an armed state trooper guarding the foot of her bed all that time to prevent anyone from even thinking of slipping her a drink of water
• to have her loving parents and siblings banned from being with her at the very last while instead have her adulterous husband and his hemlock society lawyer leering at her
• to be cremated (as a Catholic?)
• to have her loving parents and siblings banned from her funeral
• to have her loving parents and siblings denied any portion of her ashes
• to have her loving parents and siblings denied the knowledge of her final resting place

Yeah, good ole mikey just wanted to honor his wife's wishes.

[iopscusa]

Boortz is not listened to by this household. He's little more than a ranter without ethics. Once again proving that Libertarians and the Left have a lot of commonality, they are both in love with themselves.

[Navy Patriot]

Sorry, Neal, how serious Terri's impairment was had nothing to do with it. I was whether anyone, including Terri herself, had the right to kill (by torture) anyone based on the killer's assessment of the quality or amount of life of the victim. Those unable to understand this concept obviously have no quality of life. Nuff' said?

[angelanddevil2]

The report says "Much discussion took place in the media concerning why the decedent had not undergone an MRI scan of her brain, rather than only a brain CT scan while alive. Last month, the Director of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advisory to healthcare professionals that serious injury or death can occur when patients with implanted neurological stimulators - such as the decedent's implanted thalamic stimulator - undergo MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) procedures".

Well, that was last month; that was not known years ago, and still Terry didn't have an MRI. Why?. Because on May 2005 they were going to discover it wasn't good?. Or because negligence of her husband?.

The report also says that there is no way to know that it's impossible to determine whether or not Terry was minimally conscious or in PVS.

[farmer18th]

Girl With Half A Brain Going To College...

There's hope for Boortz then too.

[dinasour]

wasn't the issue whether or not she was reacting to her parents and watching that balloon floating around her room? She should not be allowed to die...

No the the issue was that she wasn't "allowed to die", she was executed.

I don't care if her brain was on Micheal's dresser, starving disabled people to death is a line that shouldn't be crossed.

Now, who lives and who dies is just some judge's opinion as to what constitutes a "useless eater".

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Boortz divides the human race into two classes: those worthy of life and those unworthy of life.

Based on Boortz's view of things, why did her death have to be such a waste? We could have used her living, useless body for medical experimentation. To save lives.

[EternalVigilance]

Couldn't agree more.

[Malesherbes]

I used to find Boortz occasionally amusing. No more. For me the judicial murder of Terry Schiavo was a test of society, and Boortz seems to revel in it.

[JSteff]

"One thing is for sure, those who felt Terri was abused will not have their minds changed by the results of this autopsy and those who felt the husband did not do anything wrong feel vindicated."

Granted. Then explain how all that brain mass disappeared. She had no leaks in her skull. By all accounts(including Michael's) she was a fine, lively, and vibrant person until the incident that put her in the hospital.. so where did all that brain mass go?

You said "You find out that Terri Schiavo's brain was reduced to half its normal size. She had no cognitive abilities." How did her brain get like that? Yes it will shrink from lack of stimulation... like not providing rehabilitative therapy (as was the case). But the autopsy does not explain how half her brain disappeared. Can you? Yes it will shrink from lack of stimulation but not just one night disappear.

There is no explanations for the incident that put her in the hospice.. and so far everyone says there were no signs of abuse... but no one has explained what happened to put her in her condition. Loss of oxygen can do that.. but no one has explained how that might have happened either.. if that is what it was. The initial exam did not point to that out... Strangulation, or maybe a pillow over the face could explain that.... maybe?

A large amount of my brain has "white matter" from my M.S. of over 15 years and it gets worse, but I am not ready for a hospice and I have my down days, and it does not get better, but I am fully aware I am alive and that you are reading this points to my existence. "She was not aware of her own existence. She didn't even know she was alive, and therefore couldn't know that death was a possibility. She wasn't there" How do you know? How do you know it was always that way? How do you know?

No matter how much the cult members of the death cult that gave us roe V wade thinks this ends it they are wrong. I know there is a segment of the population that believes this proves she DESERVED to die by COURT ORDER.. it doesn't. It only creates more questions.

Like how did a vibrant women suddenly and so far inexplicably pass out and nearly die? No signs of leaky vessels in the brain, heart showed as being in good shape. Hmmm

How does anyone know that she just never had all that much matter up there. Discovery or TLC had a show on a couple of times about functional people who had only a fragment of their brains... was she one of these? This still would not explain why therapy was with held for any reason. She was NOT dead.

Several of her best friends testified that she believed "where there is life there is hope". Too bad Michael was not one of them, huh? Might she have recovered to some degree had she received the correct therapy from the start?

Again, how did a woman who the day before was vibrant and alive suddenly die/pass out/what ever and the ER could find no good reason. Hint of maybe some heart condition but again that was not inconclusive that the heart condition wasn't caused by lack of oxygen. Oh and I believe the autopsy says the heart was in decent shape. Hmmm again.

Too many questions to put this aside for too many people. In fact the Zogby poll done after said (despite what the media and judiciary would have us believe) that MOST Americans disagreed with what went on.

Those who believe too much says it appears Terri might have been murdered, or at least that answers are needed are having less a problem with the autopsy findings. They still want answers. Now those who obviously are glad a COURT ordered removal of the feeding tube and water (not defacto life support!) still struggle to get the rest of us to believe "it was right for her to die" "she had no quality of life... blah blah blah". Again, How do you know? If there is any doubt what would have been the harm in allowing therapy and rehabilitation attempts? What?

Why this attempt to try to force the majority to also think that a court had the right to allow .. on a husband's word (who is shacked up with a woman and making babies since soon Terri had her incident) say Terri did not want to be kept alive and order her food and water taken away? Why the insistence she needed to die? Why not give her to her parents and family care and be allowed to go to a rehabilitation center to get better to live? If that did ot work, fine this would have been over long ago. Why shuttled off quickly to a hospice to die? Why the insistence nothing should be done???

Why not allow the family to assume responsibility???? What could it have hurt??

Those who wanted death want us all to not question any more and just agree death is/was best. Maybe for them, but not for every one. So again the question is why a new push to get the majority to say death was/is best? We are not going to.

If you have some skeleton in your closet that makes you need to have everyone else believe that death is best, get therapy and get over it. Most still have questions and they have that right to seek logical explanations and seek answers to questionable occurrences... remember.. America... formed because people said "WHY" and "ENOUGH we are not taking it any more!"

Look if the death cultists need therapy to get over the rest of us not accepting the whole flimsy thing I advise them not to let Michael Shaivo pick the therapy or hospice for you. And don't get a court involved because they can now ORDER a living person who commits no crime to be killed. But then again maybe that is what is actually desired by you.. in which case have at it.

If you are functional and cognizant when you clearly state you want to die that is your business. Tell one other person you want to be dead and not kept alive. If you fall asleep or get knocked unconscious, or smother in your pillow it is a done deal because that one other person can get a court to order it on your behalf.

But don't dream of waking alive... you might not be allowed to change your mind cause now the other person can say it was your wish to die. Your friends and family will not be able to help you. The one other "witness" and the court seal your fate.

Your friends and family will be bared from offering any assistance because the other person who claims you wanted to die will win in court. After all, now there is case law.

But stop trying to get us all to believe the Terri incident is "best and correct". We don't have to accept a culture of death is best for us too. So stop trying.

[prion]

when the Terri Schiavo matter was consuming front pages and broadcast news, wasn't the issue whether or not she was reacting to her parents and watching that balloon floating around her room? She should not be allowed to die, people said, because with rehab she would improve and then her family could take her to malls and birthday parties and such.

A cruel, and surely deliberate, lie. I, for one, believed she'd never get a whit better, and I have no idea if there was so much as a scrap of consciousness there. Neither does the most qualified neurologist on the planet.

The issue is whether we kill handicapped people when they become inconvenient. The ones who can't talk, anyway. We'll have to work at society a while to get to the rest.