Posted on 03/29/2005 5:42:12 PM PST by Former Military Chick
Almost 30 years ago, a 21-year-old named Karen Ann Quinlan lapsed into a persistent vegetative state after drinking too much alcohol and taking Valium at a party. Karen‘s parents waged a legal battle for the right to remove their daughter‘s life support. And they eventually succeeded.
But Karen continued to breath after the respirator was unplugged and remained in a coma for almost 10 years until her death in 1985. Karen would have been 51 years old next week.
JULIA QUINLAN, MOTHER OF KAREN ANN QUINLAN
Well, it‘s—in some ways, it‘s very similar to Terri Schiavo‘s case. In some ways, it isn‘t. We had to make the decision to have what we considered all extraordinary means removed from Karen. And that was the respirator. And we had to go court to fight for what we believed in.
We were refused by the Superior Court in New Jersey. And we had to appeal to the New Jersey state Supreme Court, which granted Joe permission to become her guardian and to have all extraordinary—all extraordinary means removed from her.
Karen was never on a feeding tube. She never had a feeding tube placed in her. She was fed through the nasogastric feeding.
And after she was removed from the respirator, she seemed to be as comfortable as she possibly could be. And so there was no reason for us to remove the nasogastric feeding, because she was resting as comfortably as possible.
Well, it was very difficult.
I can empathize with the husband. And I can empathize with the parents. I think one of the most difficult things life is to accept that your daughter is going to die. And I watched Karen die slowly for 10 years. And it was very, very stressful.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Agree.
I'd say MS did his cold homework.
" I'd say MS did his cold homework "
Exactly.
The RNs who cared for Terri gave sworn affidavits that MS would go behind closed door to visit with Terri and when he left-Terri would have needle marks and exhibit symptoms of insulin overdose.
I thought this might be hyberbole-until I learned that MS was a nurse, with complete access to insulin and needles.
I also learned that MS ,with Judge Greer's blessing-forbid anyone from brushing Terri's teeth, for years.
You don't have oral hygiene, your mouth becomes a sewer and then the bacteria speads to your heart-you develop endocarditis and without antibiotic treatment, (which MS via Judge Greer, forbade) -you could die.
Oh yes, MS did his homework.
Definitely.
I think the DCF appeals hearing is tomorrow.
I am not sure anyone really knows what they want except, of course, to live, right up to the point of death. That's human nature. And we certainly don't want to be murdered.
Maybe that is why Terri is fighting so hard. She is a fighter and I think that is good.
standard of care is to replace ng with g-tube for long term.
" I think the DCF appeals hearing is tomorrow "
Any info on this would be appreciated.
If IIRC, Judge Greer has previously sealed all DCF findings, so it should be interesting to see how he handles this.
I expect the same old, same old-
since past is prologue, I foresee more sealed documents.
What is Judge Greer hiding by sealing documents related to investigations into abuse of Terri ?
If everything is all happiness and light-why not make them public?
Two criminal investigations have been started on Terri's behalf, both stopped by the head attorney general of Pinella county. Why?
I think the possibility of MS being an honorable, caring man are almost next to nil. I truly believe he's a cold hearted SOB and then some, this decade's OJ, and then some.
I pray somehow this gets a full investigation after her death. I worry about the America I am leaving to my children.
PING
the theory is MS injected insulin to crash blood sugar and damage her brain still further
"the theory is MS injected insulin to crash blood sugar and damage her brain still further"
Too bad it can't be proven. It is my understanding this nurse found empty insulin vials and turned them over to the police, which did zip.
Let me get this straight. He strangled her, beat her, injected her with insulin, beat her over the head with a blunt object and the emergency hospital did not see her in that state? Oh, they must be part of the conspiracy too.
I must admit that I am thoroughly and completely bamboozled
regarding Judge Greer's authority.
It appears that Greer is Probate Judge... which is to say, he has
authority to oversee the distribution of my late Gramma's china
and silverware, etc.
However... from where and how does he have the power and
uthority to prevent a poor dying woman from taking a sip of
water ???????????
"Like lots and lots of handicapped people. Should we stop feeding them, too?"
I hear the Pope may have a feeding tube put in. I wonder what the libs will have to say about that?...
The insulin incidents allegedly happened while she was in a nursing home. The staff was given strict instructions on what to do, and not to do for Terri. Nurses who tried to give her food by mouth, and claimed they were successful at it, were fired the following day. Notations of progress on her chart were erased by the next time that particular nurse came on duty.
After the alleged insulin incident the nurse (or aide) took the vials to the police. She was fired within 24 hours, and no investigation was ever done.
If I'm not mistaken, Michael Schiavo's attorney either is part owner of, or sits on the board of the hospice in which Terri resides now. His word is LAW around there, and I'm sure the nurses do just what they're told or they know he could make trouble for them because if they're fired for doing something for Terri, or saying anything out of line, they might have trouble getting a job elsewhere.
To this day they do not know why Terri initially collapsed. There was a very low pottassium reading, consistent with numerous conditions.
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