Posted on 03/25/2005 2:07:13 PM PST by mc6809e
Thanks to reader "primer" I've been directed to the University of Miami Ethics program website where they posted this image from a CT scan of Terri Schiavo's brain in 1996. The sentence attached to the link for this scan on the site says:
CT scan of Ms. Schiavo's brain, showing extensive cortical regions filled with spinal fluid.
If you go to this link you can see the scan in a larger reproduction.
A COURT OF MEDICAL LIGHTWEIGHTS WEIGH IN ON TERRI'S CT.
The Second District's first opinion in this case explained:
Since 1990, Theresa has lived in nursing homes with constant care. She is fed and hydrated by tubes. The staff changes her diapers regularly. She has had numerous health problems, but none have been life threatening.
Over the span of this last decade, Theresa's brain has deteriorated because of the lack of oxygen it suffered at the time of the heart attack. By mid 1996, the CAT scans of her brain showed a severely abnormal structure. At this point, much of her cerebral cortex is simply gone and has been replaced by cerebral spinal fluid. Medicine cannot cure this condition. Unless an act of God, a true miracle, were to recreate her brain, Theresa will always remain in an unconscious, reflexive state, totally dependent upon others to feed her and care for her most private needs.
First, I contest the theory that Terri's brain actively continues to degenerate as implied by the above statement. How could they gage serial brain degeneration without serial follow-up? And by what mechanism would her brain CONTINUE to atrophy? Second, Terri's cerebral cortex has not been replaced by fluid. That is inaccurate. The cortex is thinned and the sulci are enlarged.
(Excerpt) Read more at codeblueblog.blogs.com ...
The problem is Judge Greer doesn't care if she has a functioning cerebral cortex, he appointed pro-death doctors to review this many years ago and they reached the conclusion he wanted, that she should die.
And the appellate courts review his rulings with a very very deferential standard of review.
Meaning, essentially, the true facts don't matter, Judge Greer's exeuction will proceed.
B'shem Yshua
chuck
It would be better to see scans of other parts of the brain closer to the middle to get the total understanding of her brain's physical condition.
She is fed and hydrated by tubes. The staff changes her diapers regularly. She has had numerous health problems.
SHE CAN swallow! MS directions for the tubes but NOT NEEDED. Change diapers? WHY? NO physical therapy, no range of motion - left in a bed to rot - She was a healthy vibrant young lady before "incident". Actually, her friends say she had no eating disorder.
Everyone with evidence no matter how small should start emailing copays of it to the Florida State Attny Generals Office and the US Attny Generals Office and any other authority that you can think of.
Maybe we are too late to save Terri but we can go on pushing for an investigation into the crooks behind this murder. And that's what I think this is. It's just court sanctioned murder.
765.101 Definitions.--As used in this chapter:(12) "Persistent vegetative state" means a permanent and irreversible condition of unconsciousness in which there is:
(a) The absence of voluntary action or cognitive behavior of any kind.
(b) An inability to communicate or interact purposefully with the environment.
Taking those parameters and applying their their strictest meaning, which must be done because this is legal language meant to define a condition of law that must be met, even a layman can easily see that Terri does not fit the requirements. Terri smiles and laughs with her father. I argued with a doctor on FR last night and he tried to dance around this asking "how does she not fit that definition?" Decide for yourself. Look at the video and study the language of the statute carefully. Do you really need to be a brain surgeon and a lawyer to see the truth?
Regardless of all the fine lines of physiology and ever changing medical views on consciousness and prognosis and potential treatments a doctor must give an opinion to the court that focuses solely on those legal questions above. And the law also requires two doctors to do independent examinations and put their diagnosis on the patients medical chart with their signature.
FMCDH
MOLON LAVE
BLOAT
Judgenfuhrer Greer: "Got to get that cremation going soon.
Should I wait for the 'bitch' to fully die?
After all, she has already made me, my wife, and the lawyers a small fortune."
HEALTHFUL DRINKS AND WARM MEALS SINCE THE ORDER-TO-MURDER-AN-INVALID BY JUDGE GREER
Murderer-At-Will Judge Greer 32
......................... Terri Shiavo 0
.......................... Lee Malvo 25
.......................... Scott Peterson 24
I don't. The CT tells me all I need to know.
Especially, comparing it to a healthy brain.
Good thought - Maybe this case w/stop the illegals.
Good thought - if he could come and be at the hospice to support Terri he would.
Maybe this case w/stop the illegals.
Axial CT image of a normal brain using a state-of-the-art CT system and a 512 x 512 matrix image. Note the two black "pea-shaped" ventricles in the middle of the brain and the subtle delineation of gray and white matter
(Courtesy: Siemens)
Terri's brain (the picture from the blog won't post here)
Plus he received money from attorneys who have represented Micky Schiavo. Duh, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to think this judge has been bought.
Healthy brain was very light, Terri's very dark.
But the overwhelming credible evidence is that Terri Schiavo has been totally unresponsive since lapsing into the coma almost ten years ago, that her movements are reflexive and predicated on brain stem activity alone, that she suffers from severe structural brain damage and to a large extent her brain has been replaced by spinal fluid, that with the exception of one witness whom the court finds to be so biased as to lack credibility, her movements are occasional and totally consistend with the testimony of the expert medical witnesses. The testimony of Dr. Barnhill establishes that Terri Schiavo's reflex actions such as breathing and movement shows merely that her brain stem and spinal cord are intact.
Reference (page 6)
Some people have made a big deal over the courts saying "spinal fluid" instead of "cerebrospinal fluid." I call that nitpicky.
Here's some information about the cerebral cortex - Terri's is badly damaged:
The cerebrum (cerebral cortex) is the largest part of the brain, with a heavily folded surface of gyri (ropy structures) and sulci (valleys). Areas on the Cerebrum are called lobes. The outer 2-6 mm is gray matter, while the inner tissue is white matter as well as islands of gray matter (see slice). The frontal lobe is involved in speech, elaboration of thought and emotion, and skilled movements (Executive Functioning). The temporal lobe is involved in recognition of specific tones and loudness, and in memory storage. The parietal lobe is involved perceiving and interpreting bodily sensations such as touch, pressure, pain and temperature. The occipital lobe detects and interprets visual images. Neurons of the cerebellum link with other regions of the brain and the spinal cord, facilitating smooth, precise movements, and controlling balance and posture. The brain stem is in gray at the bottom of the graphic. It is also involved in speech. Carbon monoxide poisoning can disrupt function in all areas of the cerebral cortex.
My point is a little different. In FL there is a legal definition of PVS and only that is germane to making a legal ruling about it. Is she unconcious? Obviously not. Is there an absence of voluntary action of any kind? Obviously not. Is there an absence of cognitive behavior of any kind? When you react to what someone says isn't that some kind of cognitive action? Is she unable to interact purposefully with her environment? If you smile at what someone says doesn't that have a purpose to it? Is she unable to communicate? Isn't a smile or a laugh a form of communication?
A doctor here on FR tried to tell me she fit those legal parameters. I don't think I'd trust him to diagnose a runny nose myself. I know what terms like 'interact' and 'unconcious' and 'cognitive' mean. I have eyes. It seems like some people substitute college degrees for brains and think everyone who doesn't have one should bow at their feet. Not me.
FMCDH
MOLON LAVE
BLOAT
Bought, but likely not paid in full till Terri's cremated. I've been saying for awhile that all three are in on this (Schiavo, Felos, Greer), and that there's VERY big money behind it. I suspect Swiss accounts.
Nothing else make sense. There's no other logical explanation for a judge to go so wacky on JUST ONE case.
Or M. Schiavo.
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