Medical Experts Contend Schiavo Won't `Feel A Thing'

PINELLAS PARK - Even if Terri Schiavo does experience hunger, medical protocol calls for pain medication to keep her comfortable during her last days, experts said Wednesday.

As with every other issue surrounding the more than 5- year-old legal fight over the 39- year-old woman's fate, the two sides disagree on what will happen now that her feeding tube has been removed.

Bob and Mary Schindler contend their daughter is in for a protracted and agonizing death. Their attorney, Pat Anderson, has repeatedly referred to it as starvation, execution and state-sanctioned murder in court arguments.

Schiavo's husband, Michael, contends his wife has felt no sensation since January 1990, when sudden and still-unexplained heart failure cut off blood flow to her brain.

A majority of doctors who have examined Schiavo have concluded that most of her brain has died, leaving her in what is known as a persistent vegetative state. She feels, sees and hears nothing and what appear to be responsive facial expressions and vocalizations are reflexive behavior and not communication, most doctors say.

Peggy Guin, a nursing instructor at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, said her experience with patients taken off feeding tubes shows that even those who can feel pain do not, because of preventive medication.

Studies have shown that as people get closer to death, they lose any sense of hunger, Guin said. Still, she said, the one- to two-week process can be tough on loved ones.

Family members get very disturbed when their dying relatives do not want to eat,'' she said.

Because it is impossible to be sure a dying patient does not feel hunger pangs, pain medicine is provided to people who have been taken off feeding tubes, Guin said.

Removal of feeding tubes is a common practice that became accepted after thorough debate by medical ethicists, said Kenneth Goodman, director of bioethics at the University of Miami School of Medicine and a co-director of the Florida Bioethics Network.

Soon after nourishment is denied to the brain, it begins producing chemicals that act as a natural anesthetic, the professor said.

She is not going to feel a thing,'' Goodman said. The artificial pain medication that Schiavo will receive ``is to make sure that if there is [pain] it is adequately handled,'' he said.

There is nothing unusual about terminating hydration and nutrition,'' Goodman said. ``The reason why Florida law allows it, and the other 49 states allow it, is obviously that this can be done in a way that is pain-free and dignified. That is why it is legal.''

Guin said Schiavo's caregivers have an obligation to take steps to keep her comfortable as she is dying.

At first, Schiavo will display a decrease in activities such as yawning or swallowing, Guin said. Then, her kidneys will gradually shut down and her breathing and heartbeat may become irregular.

She will likely lose weight and her lips and mouth will become dry while her skin becomes taut, Guin said.

To counter that, caregivers should coat Schiavo's lips with balm and change her position frequently to prevent bedsores, Guin said.

To: pollywog

I just don't get it: nothing in the memorandums that allows him step in now?!!! Jeb needs to step in
immediately. Why is he allowing this to happen.
He is going to be complicit in murder?

From: TERRISHOPE@aol.com
Date: Thursday, October 16, 2003 5:57PM

Okay, this is what is happning now.
#1 Gov. Bush just gave a staetment that he recieved the 5 memorandiums and his legal staff is STILL going over them, but so far he has been advised that there is nothing in them, which allows him to step in now. He keeps giving the family "HINTS" of hope!!!!
#2 Terris was allegedly sooooo medicated (Per Michael's orders) that this morning when her mother went to her bedside, she wouldn't wake up. This was immediately brought to the attention of everyone ... and severely upset her family. Later Susie went in, (her younger sister) and Terri was "alert", BUT Michael's attorney "George Foelo's just gave a statement on TV the following: That because of the accuassions of the family, of Terri being over medicated, Terri will NO LONGER recieve ANY medication (meaning pain meds to keep her comfortable. Which will cause her severe PAIN. She has now been without food for almost 34 hours. And possibly longer without water, but no less then 34 hours.
# 3 Felo's said Michael recieved so many death threats that they had to place him in a safe house.
#4 I can assure you after spending over 72 hours up there and with this family, they are along with soooo many others, doing everything humanly possible to save Terri's life, as she fights to LIVE! I just got off the phone with Jude at Gov. Bush's office (his aid, a young man) (850) 488-4441 I did what you all have been doing, but added this... the finding of MANY attorneys today across the United States: Gov. Bush NEEDS to step IN NOW to use his EXECITIVE POWERS as the Gov. of Florida can do, to remove Terri immediately from the Hospice house and care of her husband, BEFORE SHE DIES!

It is against the law to deprive any disabled person the right to food and water, that in turn will cause dehydration and starvation and finally death. It is HIS job to protect and serve the Citizens of Florida, he Took an OATH and SWORE to do just that. Starving Terri to death is a CRIME in the state of Florida!!!
He met with the family yesterday in a (WE GOT REAL LUCKY) 30 minute meeeting and he gave them his word that he would have his legal team and "others" who knew the laws to find any looop holes... everyone up there with us and many others searched the Laws al throughout the night and found the above 5 memorandiums, and had them sent to Gov. Bush 1st thing this am.

The are POSTED on Terri's web site! I am back now and talking with the family by phone, I just spoke to Susie and Mike and this family needs us. We have got to keep calling Bush until one of two things happen. He either does HIS DAMN JOB and saves Terri OR there is no longer a reason to call him. This is killing this family, they do NOT deserve this and TERRI DESERVES TO LIVE!!!!!!!!!! Please help them. Everyone of you are known to this family, this I promise you, every single one of you... this family is grateful to you, from the bottoms of their heart, they are not giving up, they beg that you do not either... PLEASE.........PLEASE don't!!! Love you all, Lisa

295 posted on 10/16/2003 6:33 PM EDT by pc93 (A good site to visit is http://www.terrisfight.org . Oct. 15th 2pm death order must be stopped)
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The same man would probably argue that capital punishment is cruel and unusual.

To counter that, caregivers should coat Schiavo's lips with balm and change her position frequently to prevent bedsores, Guin said.

Uhm, if she isn't feeling pain, who cares if she has bedsores? If what the state says is true, they should just execute her.

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