Yes, it would be impossible to deliver any knock-out punches in a dramatic Perry Mason-like fashion during this interview largely because of the absence of medical records. Asking a man who may be a sociopath such questions as "Why don't you just divorce Terri so her family can care for her and you can marry your girlfriend?" isn't going to produce anything of use. He'd just answer something like, "Because I love Terri so much. I promised her she would never live like this and I must fulfill my promise to her no matter how much pain it causes me." (All delivered while holding back the visible tears in his eyes.)
The best we might hope for is to use his formal press statement to gather more information that could be used to refute his claims. These are some of the claims Michael (really Felos) made in his statement that I'd like to question him about...
"I took Terri to California. I stayed with her while doctors performed an experimental procedure to implant electrodes in her brain to stimulate its function. I spent months working with her - hopeful of a cure. Months later, the doctors told me the electrodes were not working."
Do Terri's parents know about this neurosurgery where electrodes were implanted into their daughter's brain? When was this brain surgery performed, and at what institution and by what neurosurgeon? Did Terri have a second brain surgery to remove the electrodes? When and where?
"I took Terri to Mediplex, in Bradenton, Florida, which is a residential rehabilitation facility that specializes in brain injuries. She spent months there in intensive physical, speech, and occupational therapy and testing."
Approximately when did you take Terri to Mediplex and how long was she inpatient there?
"Finally, the doctors and therapist told me and the Schindlers they could do nothing more for her. I hired a private duty aide 8 hours a day to take Terri on outings to parks and museums trying to stimulate her - looking for any sign of life, any flicker of hope. There was none - ever."
Is there an affidavit in the Court record from the private duty aide? If not, why not?
"Over the years, I had three swallowing tests performed on Terri in the hope that some of the therapies would allow her to be weaned off the feeding tube. The test all showed no change, and I was advised she could not swallow food. Even now, the nursing home staff says that sometimes Terri gags and chokes on the moisture from the swabs they use to moisten her lips."
What are the approximate dates that the three swallowing tests were performed?
"The reports you heard from nursing home aides that Terri was responsive years ago are not true...It seemed to me, during that time, that the aides never did enough for Terri. Some days they did not put her makeup on. I would storm into the nursing home insisting that they do so. I knew Terri always wanted to look her best. Sometimes, the aides did not get her dressed and sitting up until late in the morning. They did not always get her hair combed. They sometimes failed to give her vitamins and medications on time. At each of those failures, I became enraged and lashed out. I felt so helpless."
Are you saying that three CNA's committed perjury by submitting false sworn affidavits to the Court? Do you see where a reasonable person might have a hard time believing three different healthcare professionals were willing to risk loss of licensure, paying fines and jail terms because you shouted at them for not brushing Terri's hair?