http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1007658/posts?page=110 -- this is departure from what Dr. Michael Baden had said just the night before.
ontherecord@foxnews.com Transcript of Greta's "On the Record" - Schiavo segment - Friday 10-24-03
Greta: And now for a medical condition sparking national controversy, Terri Schiavo, of Florida, has been been in a vegetative state since collapsing in 1990, from what doctors say was a potassium imbalance, that stopped her heart.
Greta: But according to the Orlando Sentinel, Terri's family says a doctor who at their request, reviews Schiavo's medical records, found she was admitted to the emergency room, with a "rigid neck".
Greta: Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Michael Baden joins us from New York.
Dr.Baden: Hi,
Greta: Welcome, Dr. Baden,
Dr.Baden: Hi,
Greta: Dr. Baden, a potassium imbalance... lets first talk about... if you had a potassium deficiency, can that cause the condition that Terri Schiavo had?
Dr.Baden: Umm, CAN, but UNLIKELY.
Dr.Baden: Potassium is very interesting , its probably the most lethal poison we have when it is injected rapidly, and thats why its the poison that kills people in capital punisment by lethal injection.
Dr.Baden: And it stops the heart from beating properly. Too much of it. But also, too little of it, hypo-potassium, can also cause the heart to stop beating properly, and lead to lack of blood flow to the brain, and death of brain cells by lack of oxygen.
Greta: All right, would it, would it...
Dr.Baden: But thats very unusual Greta, extremely unusual.
Greta: A normal healthy woman, ahh, I assume would have no reason for instance, to take potassium supplements unless perhaps she was on a dieuretic, or had some other medication that would cause a potassium depetion. Is that right?
Dr.Baden: That is correct.
Greta: All right. Um, is there any explanation in your mind, and I realize you were not her treating physician, but why would a woman her age have a potassium, umm, imbalance?
Dr.Baden: Extremely unlikely..., unless she had certain kinds of diseases, which she doesn't have. She was in her 20's... the reason she is in the state she is in is because there was a period of time, maybe 5 minutes or 8 minutes when not enough oxygen was going to her brain. That can happen when the heart stops for 5 or 8 minutes, but she had a healthy heart from what we can see.
Dr.Baden: The other thing though...
Greta: (interrupting)
Dr.Baden: I'm sorry, Greta?
Greta: No, go ahead...
Dr.Baden: Your staff has provided me with a bone scan that you guys obtained... ummm, from her initial admission, in 1991 to the hospital. And that bone scan describes her as having a head injury.. thats why she's there..., thats why she's getting a bone scan. And a head injury can cause, umm, can lead to the vegetative state that Schiavo is in now,
Dr.Baden: ...and it does show evidence that there are OTHER injuries, other bone fractures, that are in the healing stage. So thats...
Greta: Alright, alright, let me back up for a second... head injuries... Could she have had, umm, could she have passed out from a potassium imbalance, causing you know, falling, hitting her head, head injury. Is that what you're talking about... or are you suggesting some sort of pre-existing injury to her passing out...
Dr.Baden: Something... something totally different. That its extremely rare, for a 20-year old to have a cardiac arrest, umm, from low potassium, who has no other diseases.
Dr.Baden: So the other issue, is could it have been due to some other cause? which is raised by the family, HAS to be looked at.
Greta: Alright, in the 20 seconds we have left... other injuries... bone injuries... what does that suggest to you?
Dr.Baden: That... some kind of trauma. The trauma could be from an auto accident, the trauma could be from a fall, OR the trauma could be from some kind of a BEATING that she obtained from somebody, somewhere.
Dr.Baden: Umm, its something that SHOULD have been investigated in 1991, when these findings were, ahh... found...
Greta: ...were fresh.
Dr.Baden: yes, And maybe they were. Maybe they were investigated by the police at that time.
Greta: Alright, thats it, Michael Baden, thank you
Dr.Baden: Thank you.
110 posted on 10/24/2003 10:30 PM PDT by FL_engineer (Freedom_Loving_Engineer)
THANKS to FL engineer for recognizing the importance of this and taking the time to transcribe it.
May this info help open a new, full investigation into the suitability of Michael Schiavo as Terri's guardian. May he be removed from primary authority in her life. From all we have seen, he does not have her best interests at heart.
Terri was not in a coma. She responded as shown in video w/mother. That is clear to all who see it, even those predisposed to call her in pvs.
We wonder why her guardian, who cares so much for her, did not want that video shown? why Atty Bushnell immediately sent letter to Terri's family saying they could no longer visit her without his representative being present (see at
http://Terrisfight.org ).
Why has there been no rehabilitation, no wheelchair for her -- note the loving Michael pxrs of hiim w/her in early days -- even tho Terri's family offered to buy? why no swallowing tests? why no teeth brushing? why he did not EVEN permit the host (bread) to be placed on her lips when she received last rites last Sat?
Why was she dressed in hot clothes during the day last Sat, Sun & Mon?
Of course, that's just my opinion as a close observer of this horrific situation that just seems to get worse and worse. I'd SO love to be wrong about aspects of this.
Prove us wrong, Michael et al about all this. We simply ask that you all let Terri's mother care for her, you go on with YOUR life. They're willing to give up all financial interest. Heck, we'll do a freepathon for ya.
It's not often that my mind is ever changed, but this is such a case. I've read a great deal about Dr. Baden, and his ground-breaking forensic work over the years. This isn't a man who'd point fingers willy-nilly, nor does he seem prone to political bias.