Myths About Terri Schiavo

terrisfight.org ^

[Recovering_Democrat]

Most Common Questions and Answers

If Terri hasn't recovered after all these years of therapy, why not let go?

Terri hasn't had meaningful therapy since 1991, but many credible physicians say she can benefit from it.

Why can't Terri just divorce?

Terri's husband/guardian speaks for her. She cannot divorce without his permission

Does Terri have an advanced directive or any wishes about her healthcare?

Terri never signed any directive or living will and there is no evidence that she foresaw her present situation.

Why do Terri's family fight to keep her alive? Shouldn't they let her husband decide?

Terri's husband has started another family and probably has gone on with his life. Terri's family want to provide her therapy and a safe home.

Is Terri receiving life support?

Not in the traditional sense. Terri only receives food and fluids via a simple tube.

Isn't removing her tube a natural and dignified way to die?

No. Dehydration and starvation cause horrific effects and are anything but peaceful. Read more here.

 

Most common misconceptions about Terri's situation

MYTH: Terri is PVS (Persistent vegetative state)

FACT: The definition of PVS in Florida Statue 765.101:
Persistent vegetative state means a permanent and irreversible condition of unconsciousness in which there is:

(a) The absence of voluntary action or cognitive behavior of ANY kind.
(b) An inability to communicate or interact purposefully with the environment.

Terri's behavior does not meet the medical or statutory definition of persistent vegetative state. Terri responds to stimuli, tries to communicate verbally, follows limited commands, laughs or cries in interaction with loved ones, physically distances herself from irritating or painful stimulation and watches loved ones as they move around her. None of these behaviors are simple reflexes and are, instead, voluntary and cognitive. Though Terri has limitations, she does interact purposefully with her environment.

MYTH: Terri does not need rehabilitation
FACT: Florida Statute 744.3215 Rights of persons determined incapacitated:

(1) A person who has been determined to be incapacitated retains the right
(i) To receive necessary services and rehabilitation.

This is a retained right that a guardian cannot take away.  Additionally, it does not make exception for PVS patients. Terri has illegally been denied rehabilitation - as many nurses have sworn in affidavits.

MYTH: Removal of food was both legal and court-ordered.
FACT: The courts had only allowed removal of Terri's feeding tube, not regular food and water. Terri's husband illegally ordered this. The law only allows the removal of "life-prolonging procedures," not regular food and water:

Florida Statute 765.309 Mercy killing or euthanasia not authorized; suicide distinguished. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to condone, authorize, or approve mercy killing or euthanasia, or to permit any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life other than to permit the natural process of dying.

MYTH: Many doctors have said that there is no hope for her.
FACT: Dr. Victor Gambone testified that he visits Terri 3 times a year. His visits last for approximately 10 minutes. He also testified, after viewing the court videotapes at Terri’s recent trial, that he was surprised to see Terri’s level of awareness. This doctor is part of a team hand-picked by her husband, Michael Schiavo, shortly before he filed to have Terri’s feeding removed. Contrary to Schiavo’s team, 14 independent medical professionals (6 of them neurologists) have given either statements or testimony that Terri is NOT in a Persistent Vegetative State. Additionally, there has never been any medical dispute of Terri’s ability to swallow. Even with this compelling evidence, Terri’s husband, Michael Schiavo, has denied any form of therapy for her for over 10 years.

Dr. Melvin Greer, appointed by Schiavo, testified that a doctor need not examine a patient to know the appropriate medical treatment. He spent approximately 45 minutes with Terri. Dr. Peter Bambakidis, appointed by Judge Greer, spent approximately 30 minutes with Terri. Dr. Ronald Cranford, also appointed by Schiavo and who has publicly labeled himself “Dr. Death”, spent less than 45 minutes examining and interacting with Terri.

MYTH: This is just a family battle over money.
FACT: In 1992, Terri was awarded nearly one million dollars by a malpractice jury and an out-of-court malpractice settlement which was designated for future medical expenses. Of these funds, less than $50,000 remains today. The financial records revealing how Terri’s medical fund money is managed are SEALED from inspection. Court records, however, show that Judge Greer has approved the spending down of Terri’s medical fund on Schiavo’s attorney’s fees - though it was expressly awarded to Terri for her medical care. Schiavo’s primary attorney, George Felos, has received upwards of $400,000 dollars since Schiavo hired him. This same attorney, at the expense of Terri’s medical fund, publicly likened Terri to a “houseplant” and has used Terri’s case on national television to promote his newly published book.

MYTH: Michael Schiavo volunteered to donate the balance of the inheritance to charity.
FACT: In October, 1998, Schiavo’s attorney proposed that, if Terri’s parents would agree to her death by starvation, Schiavo would donate his inheritance to charity. The proposal came after a court-appointed Guardian Ad Litem cited Schiavo’s conflict of interest since he stood to inherit the balance of Terri’s medical fund upon her death. This one and only offer stated “if the proposal is not fully accepted within 10 days, it shall automatically be withdrawn”. Naturally, Terri’s parents immediately rejected the offer.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Just to answer some of the TROLLS on this board who are apparently DELIGHTED that Terri is starving.

[Keith in Iowa]

Great post. I'm going to share the link to the site containing the page on another board...

[FairOpinion]

"Judge Greer has approved the spending down of Terri’s medical fund on Schiavo’s attorney’s fees"


I would like to see Judge Greer's bank accounts, including the ones he may have outside the country. I just wonder if some of that money found its way into his pockets. I wouldn't be surprised.

Terry, the spokesman for the Schindler family said that for the past two years, Greer would not allow Terri to be photographed, or video taken, he wouldn't allow them to even take her out of the room in a wheelchair to get some fresh air, and he wouldn't even allow to curtains and window to be opened. Also, that now he is not allowing for anyone to even put icechips into Terri's mouth, to give it some moisture and relieve suffering.

What kind of monster would do that? And this is the Judge, not Schiavo.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

For the life of me, I cannot understand why anyone would take delight in the cruel and inhumane torture this poor woman has gone through.

[FairOpinion]

http://www.terrisfight.org/ contains a lot of factual information, including court papers and the timeline.

1992

Aug - Terri awarded $250,000 in malpractice settlement.

Nov - Terri awarded $1.4 million in malpractice trial.

Nov - Michael Schiavo awarded $600,000 in malpractice trial.


1993

Feb - Michael Schiavo denies recommended rehabilitation treatment.

Feb - Schiavo and Terri's parents have falling out regarding lack of therapy for Terri.

Feb - Schiavo withholds medical information from Terri's parents.

Feb - Schiavo posts Do not Resuscitate order in Terri's medical chart.

Jun - Schiavo threatens Schindler family with lawsuit.

Aug - Schiavo orders medical staff not to treat Terri for potentially fatal infection.

Sep - Bob and Mary Schindler petition courts to remove Schiavo as Terri's guardian.

Nov - Schiavo admits in deposition that he knew withholding treatment of infection could result in Terri's death.


====

Note, how her husband started to kill her right after he got the money.

===

For those who want to help Terri, the spokesman for her parents mentioned a new website with the information of people to contact, and was asking that people create an avalanche of support for Terri.

http://www.helpterri.com

[M. Espinola]

Excellent, informative posting!

[Feiny]

It took several years for Michael to "remember" Terri told him she didn't want to be kept alive by machines.

[FairOpinion]

2000

Jan - Judge Greer Conducts Terri’s Feeding Tube Removal Trial.

Feb - Greer Rules to Remove Nutrition Feeding Tube.

Feb – Affidavits filed by 3 doctors state Terri can swallow and is not PVS.

Feb - Greer denies petition to allow Terri swallowing tests.

Apr - Terri Moved from Palm Gardens Nursing Home to Hospice Facility.

Apr - Greer denies motion to return Terri to Palm Garden Nursing home.

Apr - Greer imposes restricted visitor list for Terri.

http://www.terrisfight.org/

[AUsome Joy]

Dr. Dobson said on Hannity and Colmes that Terri is not allowed to have water or even ice chips to wet her dry mouth. This is unbelievably cruel and inhumane. He said that we wouldn't even allow a dog to be treated like this.

[Duke Nukum]

There are trolls and then there are complete a**holes. The one's I've seen, like the guy posting pictures of carrots and stuff, fall into the latter category.

Thanks for posting this.

[WasDougsLamb]

"Dr. Dobson said on Hannity and Colmes that Terri is not allowed to have water or even ice chips to wet her dry mouth. This is unbelievably cruel and inhumane. He said that we wouldn't even allow a dog to be treated like this."


Poor Terri. How cruel to do that to a human being.

[LauraleeBraswell]

What now? Is there any hope for Terri? Have we lost, have we really really lost this battle?

She's just going to die and there is nothing we can do about it. What do they get out of it? What does this judge get from doing this? Terri is alive, we've seen the video. And now she is going to starve to death.

[Hegemony Cricket]

Did anyone else hear the bombshell on Savage today about Judge Greer? I caught the tailend of the third hour, and a lady called in and said she had considerable experience in the same court system as Judge Greer, and that it was fairly commonly known in that system that Greer is LEGALLY BLIND (OK, no jokes here, I know what you are all thinking...). Anyway, this lady said Greer cannot read ANYTHING due his very poor eyesight, and that he only knows what he hears.

This may or may not have any real bearing on the case, as Judge Greer really should know better, but can anyone truthfully tell me that if a legally blind judge were to make a ruling on a controversial issue, and the predominantly liberal media DISAGREED with it, that we wouldn't be hearing about his disability loud & long?

[Keith in Iowa]

>>> What now?

Gretta on FoxNews reported a bit ago that there is an appeal underway to the SCOTUS now - ...but those gutless wonders will probably punt. Otherwise, we can hound our congresscritters until they pass a law that this can never happen again.

[Rakkasan1]

yet they'll send Sally Struthers money that she (apparently)
eats.

[FairOpinion]

If you want to help Terri, go to

http://www.helpterri.com

The spokesman for Terri's family said that he is asking everyone to go to that site, which has the names of Senators and Representatives and asked that people get in touch with them and create an avalanche of support for Terri.

I just thought of something, could President Bush or Gov Bush "pardon" Terri? They have the power to pardon criminals and commute their sentences, why don't they have the power to do the same for an innocent woman?

[FairOpinion]

Maybe the judge was paid off by Michael. After all, he got about $2M. It wouldn't be the first time, that a judge was paid off.

[TAdams8591]

Judge Greers poor eyesight has many times been the point of discussion on Terri's threads. How could he have seen Terri's videos???

[wrathof59]

Terri's brother was just on Greta(I know, Greta) and suggested that the onset of her condition was not due to natural physiological onset, but studies show that it was tramatic.

This statement really caught my attention, could it be that Mr. Shiavo has something to fear that Terri might disclose if she is able to speak again.

Dead men tell no tales.

[FairOpinion]

" could it be that Mr. Shiavo has something to fear that Terri might disclose if she is able to speak again. "


This is the only explanation that fits the facts. Any reasonable person would have allowed Terri's parents to take over guardianship.