Documentary Reveals New Details In Terri Schiavo Case

UC Daily News ^ | February 25, 2009 | Gina Adams

[BykrBayb]

 

 

 

 

 

DOCUMENTARY REVEALS NEW DETAILS IN TERRI SCHIAVO CASE

By Gina Adams

Story Published: Feb 25, 2009 at 5:31 PM CST

Story Updated: Feb 25, 2009 at 5:34 PM CST

The story of Terri Schiavo caused a nationwide uproar that garnered the attention of the worldwide media, the U.S. Congress, and even the office of the President of the United States.

 

The ethical and cultural implications of her case are still being felt throughout society and continue to spark debate.

 

In the newly-released documentary, The Terri Schiavo Story (Franklin Springs Family Media), previously unexplored facts of the case are revealed through in-depth interviews with participants on both sides of the issue.

 

Hosted by author and speaker Joni Eareckson Tada, who became personally involved in the case in 2005, The Terri Schiavo Story sheds new light on the controversial decision that led to the death of a 41-year-old disabled woman.

 

In 1990, at the age of 26, Terri Schindler Schiavo suffered a mysterious cardio-respiratory arrest for which no cause has ever been determined.

 

She was diagnosed with hypoxic encephalopathy - a neurological injury caused by lack of oxygen to the brain. Terri was placed on a ventilator, but was soon able to breathe on her own and maintain vital function.

 

She remained in a severely compromised neurological state and was provided a PEG tube to ensure the safe delivery of nourishment and hydration.

 

On March 31, 2005, Terri Schindler Schiavo died of marked dehydration following more than 13 days without nutrition or hydration under the order of Circuit Court Judge, George W. Greer of the Pinellas-Pasco's Sixth Judicial Court.

 

Veteran producer and director Ken Carpenter felt the story deserved to be re-told, but he did not anticipate the amount of new information that would come to light.

 

"Working on this project made clear to me that we need to keep Terri's story alive. Our children need to know the lines were drawn when our government and court system let Terri die. Knowing the full story - not just what we heard in the media - equips us to address new challenges to our faith."

 

Joni Eareckson Tada, herself disabled after a diving accident which left her a quadriplegic in a wheelchair and unable to use her hands, says what happened to Terri continues to affect disabled citizens.

 

"The story remains relevant because there are countless people like Terri Schiavo whose lives are in grave danger because of unclear custody and guardianship laws," says Tada. "Plus, more states (under futile care policy directives) are quietly removing the feeding tubes from brain-injured people when families abandon their responsibilities. Feeding tubes are providing basic care, not medical treatment."

 

Terri's brother, Bobby Schindler, was interviewed at length in the documentary and is now involved in helping families in similar circumstances through The Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation.

 

Schindler believes the truth about his sister's death has been distorted and hidden - until now.

 

"Our hope is that people will learn the truth about what happened to Terri," says Schindler, "and realize the atrocity that it was and that anyone who claims that her death was 'peaceful' and 'painless' is lying. It is because of the truly inhumane nature of death by dehydration that when people are killed this way it is always done behind closed doors in the strictest secrecy. I wholeheartedly believe that if the public had been allowed to witness Terri's suffering first hand, the outcry would have deafened Florida and the world."

 

Tada was on the front lines with Terri's family in 2005, helping lead the protests that eventually landed in the halls of the U.S. Congress. "I hope that people understand that Terri Schiavo's story is really our story," says Tada.

 

"We have a special obligation to protect the weak and vulnerable in our society. We have a responsibility to uphold their human dignity -- because we are of equal dignity, we are not at each other's disposal. The weak and the vulnerable need their rights safeguarded and protected... we must not allow them to become eroded. For when we do, we are jeopardizing the rights of us all."

 

Originally produced as an episode for the Joni & Friends television series, Franklin Springs Family Media felt the story was compelling enough to produce as a stand-alone project.

 

Their decision was recently justified when The Terri Schiavo Story won the Jubliee Award for Best Documentary at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival.

 

Franklin Springs Family Media founder Ken Carpenter believes the documentary should be seen by every church and organization that cares about policies related to the disabled and pro-life issues.

 

"I hope this film helps us see that our understanding of complex situations such as Terri's should not be rooted in popular opinion, but in biblical standards."

 

Carpenter took home the Dove Award for Long Form Video in 2007 for Amy Grant's Time Again, and in 2006 for Mark Schultz' A Night of Story and Songs.

 

Carpenter also recently produced and directed the latest John Tesh television special - John Tesh Alive.

 

Through his Franklin Films production company, Carpenter has produced projects for many of the leading names in Christian entertainment and ministry, including Michael W. Smith, Compassion International, Steven Curtis Chapman, The Gideons, Jeremy Camp, eHarmony, dcTalk, Integrity Publishers, Mercy Me, Big Idea Productions, Casting Crowns, and many others.

 

Carpenter launched Franklin Springs Family Media in 2005.

 

For more information and to view a trailer for the new documentary, click here: www.TheSchiavoStory.com .

 

For more information on Franklin Springs Family Media,visit: www.FranklinSprings.com .

 

For more information on The Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation, visit: www.TerrisFight.org .

 

For more information on Joni Eareckson Tada, visit: www.JoniandFriends.org .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BykrBayb]

[KarenMarie]

Any idea what new information they plan to release?

[BykrBayb]

All I know about the program is what I read in the article. If I find out anything more, I’ll post it here. Maybe some other FReepers will have info to share.

[conservative cat]

Please add me to any pings you have with new info. Thanks!

[BykrBayb]

Will do.

[srmorton]

I welcome anything that calls attention to what really happened in this case. Because of the way the story was reported by the MSM, many people think that Teri was on true “life support” (IOW, a respirator) and that she would simply slip away when removed from the respirator. They seem not to know that what really happened is that she was allowed to literally starve to death without so much as a swab to moisten her lips.

Feeding tubes are commonly used in hospitals and nursing home settings to provide nourishment to those who can not feed themselves, even though they may be able to swallow if someone spoon feeds them. They are often used simply because nursing service does not have the time it takes to feed these patients. Because infants are at the beginning of their lives, no one would think of denying them food because of their inability to feed themselves.

Those that are disabled are not seen as valuable to society, no matter how much they are loved and wanted by their families. Teri's family wanted the chance to take care of her, but Michael Schiavo stood in their way. I still can not believe that this happened in the United States of America - that a judge would take hearsay evidence concerning Teri's wishes from a husband who was involved with and had two children by another woman

[pbmaltzman]

Please ping me with any new information as well. Thanks in advance!

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

This was where America showed its present face. Not enough of us took to the streets to demand that an innocent woman must not be put to death. And a slow horrible death, and she disabled, and her family begging for her life.

Yet we are supposed to think that, given a little more time and provocation, we will rise up and fight for gun rights or property rights, or against abortion or socialism, and we’ll have us a Second Revolution to restore what was.

Terri Schiavo was murdered in broad daylight. Her killers are known. They remain free and unpunished. Life goes on. No, we are now dead men walking.

[Admin Moderator]

Editing the body of your post will cause more problems than it’s worth. If you wish you can repost it and we can pull this one, or lock and link to the second.