Michael Schiavo Larry King Live

CNN Live ^ | 10-24-03 | Larry King

[JustPiper]

Michael Shiavo gets Larry King Monday October 27th,2003. This is a change of programming from website!

[Republic]

Hey-no apologies necessary-and I know wherein I speak-I am the queen of typos around here!

[JulieRNR21]

Anyone planning to call:

Get your call into Larry King Show early....Start trying at least an hour before at 8PM.....then keep calling every few minutes until you get in the queue....give the screener a 'soft ball' preferably right to die question...then when you get on...begin soft offering concern for Michael....then hit MS with one of these:

Why did you say in your court testimony that you needed malpractice funds to rehabilitate & take care of Terri all your life but just a few years ago suddenly remember that she would want to die?

How mush of the malpractice award has been spent on rehabilitation for Terri and how much on legal fees to have her starved & dehydrated?

Since you are committing adultery with your pregnant girlfriend why would anyone believe that you sill love Terri & have her best interests at heart?

How much insurance or annunities will you receive when Terri dies?

Are you talking with any publisher about writing a book?

[Republic]

Welcome to the forum boards and thank you for your input.

So Michael has enjoyed the spotlight, before, eh?

Perhaps we can make his moment of glory tonight a little less comfortable, actually, A LOT LESS COMFORTABLE.

[Republic]

Just printed out your questions so that if mine is asked before I get on, should I get on, I have others ready!

You rock, Julie!

[ZAKJAN]

I"M GONNA TRY TOOO....one of us has to make it
LOL

see you all there..

JAN

[Republic]

Where will you be calling from so we can pinch ourselves! :^)

[shhrubbery!]

Terri Schiavo's Longtime Doctor [Gambone] Resigns, Court Battle Monday

[JulieRNR21]

I also like the idea of one daily Terri's Fight thread after the LKL tonight....it will help us all keep current in one place.

Right now I am pinging & getting pinged all over the forum....on the latest developments.

One thread is more efficient & then we all can find the latest info in one place.

[sweetliberty]

Prayers offered for you and for all the FReepers in that area and those who have family members there for whom they are concerned.

Also, I wanted you two to meet officially, if you haven't already. You would get along splendidly. (Nic also has relatives in the fire area).

[sweetliberty]

Oh, and she is a California refugee as well.

[sisterjforteri]

I doubt it would ever happen either, but I was just saying that I'd sure like to see one. He'd never be able to pass it.

[JulieRNR21]

Did you see this on another thread? Finally some disability groups are speaking up.

Some good news:

Excerpt:

Also Monday, a coalition of disability rights groups issued a statement in support of preserving Mrs. Schiavo's life.

"The belief that people with disabilities like [Mrs. Schiavo's] are 'better off dead' is long-standing but wrong. It imperils us all," said the statement signed by 14 organizations, including ADA Watch, Center on Human Policy and World Association of Persons with Disabilities.

[nicmarlo]

Thanks sweetliberty....I think I have bumped into viaveritasvita on the fire threads. I called my daughter last night....she's okay...they're far enough away from the flames. But we have family all around the fire areas in LA County, also in Rancho Cucamonga....I'm hoping my brother and his family's okay.

[Ohioan from Florida]

Thanks for providing that link, mommy23. For anyone interested, here's a copy of that transcript:

ANNOUNCER: Next: a husband's life-or-death decision, his wife 12 years on life support and little hope for recovery.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL SCHIAVO, HUSBAND OF TERRI SCHIAVO: She wouldn't want to survive like this. And that's she doing is just, she's surviving. There's nothing there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: His emotional tug-of-war -- when CONNIE CHUNG TONIGHT returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHUNG: Tonight: a heartbreaking story, one that has brought tears and agony to one family for more than a decade. It has split a family, pitting a husband against his wife's parents. The quandary is unimaginable. Should a woman attached to life support live or die? You'll meet her husband in just a moment.

But first, CNN's Mark Potter has Terri's story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARK POTTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For more than a decade, 38-year-old Terri Schiavo has been in a coma-like state after suffering cardiac failure and massive brain damage.

MARY SCHINDLER, MOTHER OF TERRI SCHIAVO: Hi, baby. It's mommy. Hi. What's the matter?

POTTER: Terri breathes on her own, but must be nourished through a feeding tube. At issue is whether to remove the tube and end her life. Her husband, Michael Schiavo, is also her legal guardian and says, after years of failed treatment, it is time for her to die with dignity.

MICHAEL SCHIAVO, HUSBAND OF TERRI SCHIAVO: She wouldn't want to live like this. She wouldn't want to survive like this. And that's she doing is just, she's surviving. There's nothing there.

POTTER: Schiavo claims his wife told him and others she would never want to live on life support. But her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, argue she would have never said that. They are fighting vigorously to prevent their daughter from being killed.

BOB SCHINDLER, FATHER OF TERRI SCHIAVO: It's inhumane. How in the world can you starve someone to death that is cognizant? She's a person. I mean, it would be like starving you to death.

POTTER: Last year, Terri's husband won a court ruling to have her feeding tube removed. Her parents appealed. And three days later, the tube was put back in. Recently, the case was recently reheard. Two doctors selected by the husband and one by the court testified Terri is in a persistent vegetative state and beyond help.

DR. PETER BAMBAKIDIS, NEUROLOGIST: Unfortunately, I know of no single treatment or combination of treatments that could result in any meaningful improvement in her current situation.

POTTER: The parents, however, insist Terri is aware of her surroundings and have produced a videotape attempting to prove her responsiveness.

B. SCHINDLER: You remember that? You used to laugh at that? You used to get mommy all upset when you did that to her.

POTTER: Two doctors selected by the family testified Terri is not brain-dead and can be treated.

DR. WILLIAM MAXFIELD, RADIOLOGIST: There was a pianist that played some of her favorite songs. And she did react to these, and, in my opinion, almost as if she was trying to sing.

POTTER: But doctors and the attorney representing the husband say those responses are purely involuntary.

GEORGE FELOS, ATTORNEY FOR MICHAEL SCHIAVO: Vegetative patients can respond to the environment. So can plants. If you put a plant by that window, it will grow towards the light. It doesn't mean it's not a vegetable.

POTTER: In closing arguments, the parent's attorney said Terri still wants to survive.

PATRICIA ANDERSON, ATTORNEY FOR SCHINDLERS: She has shown us her spirit. She's trying to answer that question that, "Yes, I'm in here."

Now, Judge, would she try this hard if she wanted to die?

POTTER (on camera): The fight between the parents and the husband has grown increasingly bitter, with each side accusing the other of being more concerned about money from malpractice suits than Terri's actual welfare. Judge George Greer says he will rule on Terri's fate November 22.

Mark Potter, CNN, Miami.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHUNG: So what would you do if you were in this situation?

Joining me now from Tampa are Michael Schiavo and his attorney, George Felos.

Michael, why are you fighting so hard to have your wife's feeding tube removed?

SCHIAVO: Because this is what Terri wanted.

CHUNG: How do you know she would want that?

SCHIAVO: She made those comments to me. She made comments to my brother. She made comments to my sister-in-law.

CHUNG: In what context?

SCHIAVO: With my brother, it was regarding my grandmother's death. She was put on a ventilator against her wishes. And Terri made the comment to my brother that she would never want that.

CHUNG: Why, then, Michael didn't she sign a living will?

SCHIAVO: I can't answer that. We were 25 years old at that time.

FELOS: Connie, I think, statistically, only about 15 percent of adult Americans have living wills. And, obviously, the vast majority of those are older Americans. I think it would be very rare for a young person like Terri, 25, to reflect her wishes in writing.

CHUNG: Michael, did you or your wife have wills?

SCHIAVO: No. We did not.

CHUNG: I see. So, you thought it would be most unusual for her to sign a living will at her age, certainly.

SCHIAVO: To me, you make comments. And it has been shown in statistics like my attorney said that people don't -- the vast majority of people don't have living wills. They make comments through special things that happen or people that die or they see something on TV.

FELOS: Connie, at 25 years old, most 25-year-olds don't think about death.

CHUNG: No, I hear you, Michael. I understand. I understand. You really did answer that question for me. I appreciate it.

Michael Schiavo, do you have any doubts? Do you think about it sometimes and say to yourself, "Maybe I'm not doing the right thing?"

SCHIAVO: No, I don't have any doubts.

CHUNG: Why are....

SCHIAVO: You know, Connie, I worked very hard with Terri to bring her back. Legions of doctors have seen Terri. And when doctor after doctor after doctor tells you that there's no hope, your wife will be in this state for the rest of her life...

CHUNG: Well, Michael, her parents point to a couple of reasons why you would feel this way. And one is that you have a girlfriend and you have a baby girl with her. Obviously, you appear to want to move on with your life. And the other reason is that you would come into some money.

SCHIAVO: Well, Connie, the money really doesn't have any factor here, because I have offered to donate that money three or four times publicly to a charity. The Schindlers refused that offer.

CHUNG: Why don't you just leave your wife on life support, allow that money to pay for her hospital costs, and go on your way?

SCHIAVO: Well, No. 1, I'm not going to run away. The question can be posed, would you run away?

CHUNG: No, I'm sorry. I said "go on your way."

SCHIAVO: Go on my way? Because I'm telling you, I'm not going to leave Terri in this situation. I'm not going to run away from it. No. 2, back in the 2000 trial, Mr. Schindler was on the stand and testified.

CHUNG: That's your father-in-law.

SCHIAVO: Yes. He was put into a hypothetical situation. And he was asked, if he had guardianship of Terri and Terri became ill and received gangrene in one of arms, would he have it removed? And he said yes. Then he moved on to getting gangrene in her leg. And he said he would have that removed. By the time we were done, Terri had no limbs and she was on a ventilator.

I wouldn't want to leave Terri with a person that would do something like that to somebody else, just because it's what he wants. CHUNG: But, Michael...

SCHIAVO: And he has already testified that it doesn't matter what Terri wanted. It's what he wants.

CHUNG: Michael, but you will admit that, now you have a girlfriend and that you have a child by that woman, that you apparently do want to start a different life and a new life away from this wife that you have.

SCHIAVO: Well, I got on with a portion of my life. But I still will stick by my wife and make sure that her wishes are carried out.

FELOS: Connie, I want to add that there are many, many situations where there are very long-term marriages, especially elderly spouse, and one has Alzheimer's. And they don't recognize their spouse. They have to be institutionalized.

Should those people just die alone or should they be able to form new relationships and have some companionship? I mean, I think that happens many times. But they don't abandon their spouse. They make sure that they have proper care and that the spouse's wishes are carried out. And that's what Michael is trying to do, is carry out Terri's wishes in this case.

CHUNG: Michael Schiavo, what about the responses that her parents think that she's giving to them?

SCHIAVO: Terri has made those same responses for 13 years, Connie. She makes them to me. She makes them to the people in the nursing home. There's notes by the nurses there that Terri makes those noises when nobody is in the room.

That's part of being in a persistent vegetative state. Persistent-vegetative-state patients will sometimes laugh. They groan. They moan. They will have tears. They have sleep-wake cycles. But the higher level of consciousness is gone.

CHUNG: But aren't there other examples of people who have come out of a vegetative state? Granted, a miracle and highly unlikely and not considered to be likely, according to the doctors who have examined your wife, but it has happened.

SCHIAVO: There has been some instances, but they have been -- probably the longest, I believe I was told, was...

FELOS: Fifteen months.

SCHIAVO: Fifteen months.

CHUNG: All right, Michael Schiavo and George Felos, thank you both for being with us.

[windchime]

Bump to that, Julie.

[ZAKJAN]

My question if i get lucky:

In a malpractice lawsuit, you received over $300,000 for loss of consortium. Terri was awarded $750,000 from this suit and an additional $250,000 from a separate malpractice lawsuit. The money was awarded to Terri for her care and rehabilitation and to be placed in a Medical Trust Fund. From the date you received the award money in 1993,Terri has been denied any rehabilitation treatment. You have confined Terri to a nursing home (currently, a Hospice facility) where she is 'maintained !!!
Why did you say in your court testimony that you needed malpractice funds to rehabilitate & take care of Terri all your life but just a few years ago suddenly remember that she would want to die?

[Republic]

Terri Schiavo's Longtime Doctor Resigns, Court Battle Monday

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 24, 2003

Pinellas Park, FL (LifeNews.com)

Terri Schiavo's longtime doctor resigned on Thursday just as Michael Schiavo's attorney is preparing to wage a court battle that will begin on Monday to overturn Governor Jeb Bush's executive order asking doctors to reinsert Terri's feeding tube.

Dr. Victor Gambone faxed a note to Morton Plant Hospital confirming he would be stepping down as Terri's doctor. He had claimed that the removal of the tube would allow her to die peacefully within days -- contrary to the belief of numerous pro-life doctors and doctors' groups.

Michael's attorney George Felos, an assisted suicide advocate, said, "The events of the last two weeks weighed on him very heavily."

Morton Plant Hospital, where Terri Schiavo was taken Tuesday for the gastric tube to be reinserted, brought in another specialist to take over for Gambone, Felos said.

Meanwhile, Terri's parents visited her again on Thursday and they say she continues to improve, albeit slowly.

"Terri is great, absolutely great. She has her color back. She's tired, but she just looks wonderful," her father, Bob Schindler, told the Associated Press.

Both sides will appear in court next Monday as Felos challenges Bush's order. He says both the order and the legislation passed by the Florida legislature are unconstitutional.

Felos will file his brief on Monday and Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist is expected to file a response by next Friday.

The legislation allows for a guardian to be appointed for Terri and if both sides can't agree on one, which is likely, a judge will be able to appoint one.

In other news, the ACLU has confirmed that it will aid Michael Schiavo in the upcoming legal battle.

For months the ACLU stayed uninvolved because courts continually sided with Michael. Howard Simon, director of the organization's Florida affiliate said they decided to get involved once the legislature and Governor Bush intervened.

That news comes as an outrage to Pamela Hennessy, a representative of the family.

"I've been contacting the ACLU since the beginning of my involvement in this case to have them speak out against what's going on with Terri," Hennessy said. "It's going on against her will. She's had her religious freedoms stripped from her. She's had her civil liberties stripped from her. And they're defending the husband?"

Leaders of the AARP and the Florida Bar Association are also considering whether or not to get involved, and also on Michael's behalf.

Finally, Terri's family confirmed that after Michael Schiavo required a representative of his to be present when Terri's family during visitations that his "mistress" was once his official representative. In at least once instance, Jodi Centonze, with whom Michael has been living for a number of years and with whom he has one child and another one the way, was the official representative.,BR>Republic:(IF THE CRUDENESS and CALLOUSNESS and HORROR of this INDIGNITY and OFFENSE DOES NOT MAKE YOUR BLOOD BOIL, YOU ARE NOT ALIVE!!!!!THE MISTRESS AS THE GATEKEEPER!! IS THAT HELL OR NOT? I SAY IT IS. IMAGINE being the SCHINDLERS under this circumstance..........MICHAEL IS EVIL!!! HE IS!!}

Related web sites:
Bob and Mary Schindler - http://www.terrisfight.org

[Theosis]

From http://thrownback.blogspot.com

Advocates For Terri to Appear on Fox News Tonight!

Tonight Dr. Bill Hammesfahr, a doctor specializing in the treatment of stroke and brain injuries, will appear on the Hannity & Colmes program. Dr. Hammesfahr has testified at various hearings for Terri, stating that he believes that Terri is not in a Persistent Vegetative State. At the press conference last Friday, he explained that Terri is able to move her limbs on command, and that she can swallow. This, of course, flatly contradicts the opinions of the doctors who testified for the husband. Dr. Hammesfahr has come to these conclusions after spending approximately 25 hours with Terri, observing her and administering tests.

Interestingly enough, the doctor who was the chief medical witness for Michael Schiavo, Dr. Ronald Cranford, saw Terri for about 45 minutes.

This is a show anyone who wants to hear all the facts about Terri should definitely see.

Also, Pat Anderson, the principal attorney for the Schindlers, will be appearing on Greta van Susteren's show, On the Record. She will address the legal issues involved in defending Terri's life.

I know some like to beat up on Fox for being "right wing", but it seems to me, at least here, that they're providing the balance so sorely lacking in places like CNN.

Hannity & Colmes is on at 9:00 PM EST. Greta van Susteren is on at 10:00 EST.

[Republic]

...Finally, Terri's family confirmed that after Michael Schiavo required a representative of his to be present when Terri's family during visitations that his "mistress" was once his official representative. In at least once instance, Jodi Centonze, with whom Michael has been living for a number of years and with whom he has one child and another one the way, was the official representative.

"Republic:(IF THE CRUDENESS and CALLOUSNESS and HORROR of this INDIGNITY and OFFENSE DOES NOT MAKE YOUR BLOOD BOIL, YOU ARE NOT ALIVE!!!!!THE MISTRESS AS THE GATEKEEPER!! IS THAT HELL OR NOT? I SAY IT IS. IMAGINE being the SCHINDLERS under this circumstance..........MICHAEL IS EVIL!!! HE IS!!}"

I have my question for Michael, how I hope I get through.

[Republic]

We have been emailing them like mad...all of them....and ya know...FOX NEWS RESPONDS!

God BLESS them ALL for this great BALANCE and FAIRNESS!