Posted on 03/26/2005 8:25:24 AM PST by Jeff Head
Terrie Schiavo's own actions will stand as a witness, an uncontestable witness, to her will to live. Who amonsgt us believs we could last eight or more days without water or nourishment? Very few indeed, even in the best of health.
I say, to all of those wo indicate she is vegetative, past feeling or emotion...look at her will to live! I challenege any of those people, any of them, to do what she has done. I challeneg any of them to apply the golden rule to her...to have done unto themselves what they are doing to her.
Her witness, will stand against all those seeking to kill her, and will haunt forever those who had the power to save her but did not. I urge all to consider her fight and her unbelievable will to live. It in itself is becoming a miracle as she continues to live, despite all odds to the contrary.
God bless her, God bless her family...and may God yet touch the heart of someone in power who can save her and preserve this remarkable witness as a miracle of out time...one where she defies the experts and survivies and is rehabilitated beyond understanding.
...and if not...then God bless her soul in Heaven, God comfort those who truly love her and have showed it by their actions...and God forgive our nation and what we have done to her collectively as a people.
"We hold these truths to be self evident; that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are LIFE!"
Those words ignited the formation of this nation, one nation under God. They trump any legislative act or judicial decision just as surely as the trumped the King of England.
Terri is a fighter! This must be God's will, or he would have taken her a long time ago!
He will expect us to do something about what brought this whole thing about.
Seeing Terri and her parents fight -- without giving up! --is the wake-up call for all of us! We must not give up on any of our convictions, our country and our lives. We must fight and we must believe the Father Almighty.
This is truly a Holy Week.
This is having a powerful impact on people!
Anyway, Canada desperately needs you, too. :-)
This case troubles me so deeply. I know it is all legal after all I have read. But we have crossed a thershold where it is MORE than just removing what we once thougth was extraordinary life support.
Mere food and water is now considered extraordinary. I have been through end of life processess with family. NEVER would we have considered denial of food in the face of mere inconveniance. That is what this comes down to. Terri is inconveniant to someone.
I don't recall any medical opinions discussing her sufferings... just some disagreements as to the significance of her responses. MY GOD.... her family loves her... I cannot believe she can be ripped from her family, killed and burned.
Were this my daughter, I can only imagine where I would end up fighting this. We are becominng selfish barbarians.
Let's un-employ the lot of them.
I value your two cents....you're spot on, Jeff.
Our justice system has degenerated to the point where I do not have any hope left.
Keeping Terri alive until a serious unbiased study is accomplished is beyond their capabilities.
The legislators see this as a 'aren't I great' opportunity.
Disgusting, the whole damn bunch of them!
The President and his brother welcome you to their New World Order.
Well said brother,.... well said!
There is more HERE but I just can't bring myself to post it.
Terri's "Exit Protocol" Discovered In Hospice Documents
Cheryl Ford, RN, a nurse from Tampa who has been very active in the efforts to save Terri's life, recently undertook, on behalf of the Schindlers, a review of medical records from when Terri was first admitted to Woodside Hospice. Woodside Hospice is run by Hospice of the Florida Suncoast. It is of interest to note that Michael Schiavo's attorney, George Felos, was a member of the Board of Directors of Hospice of the Florida Suncoast until the Terri Schiavo case began to attract widespread public attention a few years ago.
In her research, Ms. Ford found a document titled "Exit Protocol" in Terri's file. The document is on Hospice of the Florida Suncoast "Patient Care Notes" stationery, and is dated April 19, 2001. This document lays out, in clinical detail, the procedures to be followed in bringing about Terri's death by starvation and dehydration.
I reproduce here, in entirety and verbatim, the contents of this document. It was sent to me in the form of an Adobe PDF document. It is not yet available on the web, but as soon as it becomes available I will post a link to it.
The text of the document is in black type, my comments and explanations will be presented in red type
Exit Protocolxxxxxxxxxxxx00038
Patient Care Notesxxxxxxxxxxxxx The Hospice
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxOf The Florida Suncoast
Date
4/19/01xxxxxxxxxxxxxClinical Pharmacy
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxRe: Medication review and symptom management
Pt. is a 37 yo woman in a vegetative state with no apparent signs of distress. Enteral tube-feeding to be discontinued on 4/20/01.
Current Medications:
1. antacid suspension 1-2 tablespoons prn [prn = "as needed"]
2. Naproxen suspension 375 mg Q8* prn menstrual cramps. [Q8* prn = "every 8 hours as needed". Naproxen is a pain-relieving and anti-inflamatory drug. ]
3. Vitamin liquid daily.
Upon discontinuation of enteral feeding the following signs/symptoms may or may not occur. The following is a brief list of symptoms for which to monitor and recommended interventions.
1. d/c ["discontinue"] antacid. d/c Naproxen suspension.
2. d/c Vitamin liquid
3. Monitor symptoms of pain/discomfort. If noted, medicate with Naproxen rectal suppository 375 mg Q8* prn.
Wait a minute! George Felos, Michael Schiavo, and all the other advocates of feeding-tube removal have been saying repeatedly that dying by denial of nutrition & hydration is "peaceful" and "painless". They've both said so in interviews and press conferences, such as on Larry King Live. So if dying by denial of nutrition and hydration is, as Michael said, "painless and probably the most natural way to die", then why is medication needed for pain and discomfort?
4. Signs of compromised skin integrity — continue vigilant skin care, provide moistener to lips, consult wound-care specialist if needed.
As the body dehydrates, the skin loses its tone and dries out. Left untreated, this will lead to cracking and bleeding. The lips are even more sensitive in this respect. "Vigilant skin care" is the liberal use of lotions and moisteners to mask these symptoms. The lips must be continually swabbed with special moisteners, and have lip balm applied to them. In the last stages, though, in spite of such measures, skin breakdown often occurs. Because of the body's debilitated state, normal healing mechanisms do not function. Hence the need to consult wound-care specialists to deal with ulcers and open sores.
5. Signs of dehydration
(A) dry lips, mouth. Swab saliva substitute inside mouth prn. (see next page)
After a few days without water, the body stops producing saliva, necessitating the use of a "saliva substitute" to avoid ulceration in the mouth, and a characteristic foul odor on the patient's breath. The cessation of salivation also leads to other complications which appear in the "pulmonary" section.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx00039
Patient Care Notesxxxxxxxxxxxxx The Hospice
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxOf The Florida Suncoast
Date
4/19/01xxxxxxxxxClinical Pharmacy Note — continued
xxxxxxxxxxxxxSigns of dehydration — continued
(B) decreased urinary output - no change in care plan.
While there may be "no change in care plan", one of the effects of dehydration is incontinence. The patient's diapers or "chux" pads will need to be changed more frequently, until such output ceases entirely.
6. Pulmonary
(A) Inability to clear secretions - reposition and swab mouth, consider scopolamine patch behind ear every 3 days.
Dehydration causes the natural mucus secretions of the mouth, nose, and throat to thicken, as the body struggles to protect these delicate membranes. The lack of saliva exacerbates this problem, preventing the normal swallowing of these secretions. These thick deposits can interfere with breathing. The use of the scopolamine patch promotes drying of these secretions, which prevents their build-up, but hastens the breakdown of the tissues.
(B) dyspnea ["difficulty in breathing"] — nebulize low dose 2-5 mg morphine sulfate Q4* prn.
In the last stages of dehydration/starvation, the patient's breathing will become difficult and labored. He or she may even begin gasping for breath, as even the lungs' ability to effect transfer of gases is compromised. Morphine nebulized into a fine spray relaxes bronchial passages and relieves these symptoms. However, because of the resultant decrease in respiratory efficiency, this may hasten death.
7. Multifocal myoclonus or terminal agitation (sometimes caused by electrolyte imbalance). Consider diazepam rectal administration 5-10 mg. May repeat in 4 hours if not resolved then daily - twice daily as needed.
Myoclonus is twitching or spasm of the muscles. Multifocal means "occurring in many different parts of the body". This is usually the result of imbalance in electrolytes, the chemicals, such as salt, potassium, and calcium, which make your bodies internal electrical "batteries" work. Nerve impulses and muscle contractions are governed by electro-chemical reactions utilizing these chemicals. Dehydration causes these chemicals to be out of balance, interfering with normal nerve and muscle function. This can result in nerves and muscles "firing off" uncontrollably, causing spasm. The patient will writhe and become extremely agitated. If you have ever had muscle cramps resulting from strenuous exercise (especially when you have sweat profusely), you have some idea what this feels like. Imagine having this happen all over your body, repeatedly. Diazepam (more commonly known as Valium) is a muscle relaxant
8. Grand Mal seizure, which is highly unlikely given current conditions and lack of contributing factors (meds). Recommend diazepam 15 mg rectally as indicated in seizure management orders.
In the final stages of starvation and dehydration, the same electrolyte imbalances which can cause muscle spasm can also lead to uncontrolled firing of neurons in the brain, according to a similar mechanism. This results in seizures.
Thank you for the opportunity to collaborate regarding this patient's care.
I would observe, in conclusion, that most of the "treatments" described in this Exit Protocol are in fact not directed at easing the patient's true condition, but in masking the symptoms of dying by starvation and dehydration. These treatments are designed to create the appearance of a peaceful "slipping away", when nothing of the sort is happening. The medications hide the fact that the patient undergoes a lengthy and painful deterioration, in which his/her body wastes away cruelly. Remember this the next time you hear or read someone say that Terri should be "allowed" to die.
Have you sent this report to those that might read it?
Might as well get it out there, it may be too late to save Terri, but not too late to keep the truth coming out..
Thanks for posting it.
"Thank you for the opportunity to collaborate regarding this patient's care."
This should be thank you for the opportunity to collaborate in Terry's MURDER.
Criminal procedures should be started,charging them all with murder.
Then "US" is asking to be set free to go to heaven. I pray that Terri's will and God's will be done.
And Yes to your question.
It is inhumane my friend...it is the face of the culture of death and Felos is the snakeoil salesman type who will push it on our legal system, and Greer the type who will order it done.
Her own, unspoken, yet unshaken testimony speaks louder than they all...and it will be the one that counts that is recorded here on earth and in Heaven.
The issue here is that Terri's wishes are not recorded and the only people indicating that these are her wishes are very suspect. Her family members (parents and siblings) say this is not her wish.
Would you think it okay for someone to kill me in this manner against my wishes? Even if that was a possibility? When there is doubt, you err on the side of life. That is the issue here, not a definitive and legal living will and DNR wish.
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