Maybe this was all done completely according to law.
But it stinks. Michael Schiavo should not be making decisions for Terri Schiavo, when he has so clearly set on a path in life that cannot include her.
The finding of PVS is suspect. I find it very difficult to take the word of a doctor who has a long record of advocacy for euthanasia.
The finding that she wants to die, though, is the worst of them all. There's only a long-after-the-fact testimony of the compromised husband and two of his close relatives to testify to this. There does not appear to have been any attempt at all to ascertain what she really wants. Nobody asked her, and the refusal of rehabilitation for her, despite the million-plus awarded for that purpose, seems intended to make sure she couldn't express her wishes.
The use of money awarded by the court for her medical care but instead went toward hiring a lawyer to get her killed is intuitively revolting to me. The swiftness of the change from the testimony that he would care for her forever, to denying rehab and posting a DNR order is disturbing and destructive to the husband's credibility, in my eyes.
The refusal of the federal judiciary to issue a stay so that they could fulfill the law's clear intent of a de novo review is infuriating. I am somewhat less disturbed knowing at least one judge, Judge Wilson, was able to see that and express it on the record.
I simply cannot resolve all these things and come to the conclusion that what is happening here is okay. Some of the suggestions I've made haven't been good ones at all; I'm no legal expert, and some of what I've suggested might be a good idea has turned out on inspection to do the opposite of my intent.
But the injustice here is so deep that I feel a great yearning to know the truth, and to see something done to correct it, and to see that more people do not fall victim to it.
I already read your post 43.
Let me say this again. Her husband has the legal authority to make decisions for her. That's the law.
You might not like his decision, but legally it is his to make.
Re: #843, very good, thoughtful post. Thank you!
“Theresa spent two and a half months as an inpatient at Humana Northside Hospital, eventually emerging from her coma state, but not recovering consciousness. On 12 May 1990, following extensive testing, therapy and observation, she was discharged to the College Park skilled care and rehabilitation facility. Forty-nine days later, she was transferred again to Bayfront Hospital for additional, aggressive rehabilitation efforts. . .
The clinical records . . . show . . . She received regular and intense physical, occupational and speech therapies. . .
In late Autumn [sic} of 1990, following months of therapy and testing . . . Michael took Theresa to California, where she received an experimental thalamic stimulator implant in her brain . . . in January 1991 . . . Theresa was transferred to the Mediplex Rehabilitation Center . . . where she received . . . physical, occupational, speech and recreational therapies.
On 19 July 1991, Theresa was transferred to the Sable Palms . . . facility. . . . (where she received) regular and aggressive physical, occupational and speech therapy . . . through 1994.
I’d say she had a tad bit of therapy.