Many Neurologists Side With Courts In Florida Coma Case

Contra Costa Times ^ | 10/26/03 | Donald G. McNeil Jr.

[Normally a Lurker]

At the center of the court battle over the immobile body of Terri Schiavo, the 39-year-old Florida woman kept alive by a feeding tube, is a videotape made by her parents.

It lasts only minutes but has been played so many times on television and the Internet that it all but defines her.

On the tape, Schiavo, propped up in bed, is greeted and kissed by her mother. She is not in the deep, unresponsive sleep of a coma. Her eyes are open, and she blinks rapidly but fairly normally.

She seems to follow her mother's movements, but her mother's face is too close for that to be clear.

Her jaw is slack and her mouth hangs open, but at moments its corners appear to turn up in a faint smile.

To many supporters of Schiavo's parents, who say she should be kept alive on a feeding tube, the tape demonstrates that she can still think and react.

But many leading neurologists say that it means no such thing, that the appearances of brain-damaged patients can be misleading.

. . . . . . . .

Early in Schiavo's illness, her husband, Michael, sent her to California to have a nerve stimulator implanted, one neurologist said, but he later came to believe she would never recover.

. . . . . . .

Bernat said his 1994 panel looked into more than 70 "alleged late recoverers" and found that "there wasn't a single one that was verified, so I'm very skeptical."

Dr. Ron Cranford, a Minneapolis neurologist who was Bernat's predecessor on the academy ethics committee, examined Schiavo as part of the original trial and testified in favor of her husband's request to discontinue feeding.

He was adamant that she would never get better, and he says he is furious about the popular

videotape.

. . . . . . .

[cyborg]

I saw the tape. I think this is like seeing the image of an unborn baby sucking its thumb. How can a person conclude that this woman shouldn't live after seeing this tape?

[CindyDawg]

How many is many?

[eeriegeno]

Dr. Ron Cranford, a Minneapolis neurologist who was Bernat's predecessor on the academy ethics committee, examined Schiavo as part of the original trial and testified in favor of her husband's request to discontinue feeding. He was adamant that she would never get better, and he says he is furious about the popular videotape.

Why would Dr Ron be furious about the popular video tape? Could it be that the tape shows the world that his prognosis is invalid?

[longtermmemmory]

never get better but how much is enough? Remember the RIGHT to die is a very thin tiny slim line to DUTY to die. Oh well she is not going to get better she has a DUTY to die and cease being a burden.

Then again it is really easy to write her off without therapy. Are these neurologists up to date, there are studies that are now showing people DO grow brain cells. They may be right but, to not even TRY when she still has a brain in there is terrible. (in accidents the brain becomes little more than a liquid goo inside the skull. not the case here)

If they tried and failed, that would be far more convincing than telling the courts to not even bother.

[4Godsoloved..Hegave]

Vote at the CNN poll if you haven't already. Poll is picking up steam this evening...

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/late.edition/

[Shethink13]

But many leading neurologists say that it means no such thing, that the appearances of brain-damaged patients can be misleading.

In other words, who are you gonna believe - me or your own lyin' eyes...

[nmh]

"Why would Dr Ron be furious about the popular video tape? Could it be that the tape shows the world that his prognosis is invalid?"

My impression of this alopathic kook is that he is infatuated with killing those who are defenseless and the tape revealed how incompetent he is in giving out his OPINION.

[AntiGuv]

This seems rather key:

More important, he said, "the CAT scans indicate a massive shrinkage of her brain, with its higher centers completely destroyed, which indicates irreversibility."

[narses]

Bernat said his 1994 panel looked into more than 70 "alleged late recoverers" and found that "there wasn't a single one that was verified, so I'm very skeptical."

Can anyone refute this nonsense?

[Prime Choice]

In other words, who are you gonna believe - me or your own lyin' eyes...

The mantra of the Left in a nutshell, ladies & gentlemen!

Thanks for saying it. It definitely needed to be said.

[punster]

That does seem to be indicative of the degree of damage to her brain. Other tests might include PET scanning, which would show the areas of her brain that are dead.

I am sceptical that with the degree of damage, that it can ever regrow. I certainly believe the Terri Schiavo personality is dead and gone, from the evidence of the CAT scan. Hopefully, she has found peace on the other side. The lawyers certainly don't want to give her peace.

[LADY J]

God works in mysterious ways!!

Giraldo (Fox Cable) had Alan Dershowitz (SP?)and another person to do a
'pro and con' as attorneys regarding Terri's case.

When it was finished - Giraldo and both of them voted for LIFE!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU LORD!!!!

[gooleyman]

"Thirteen years is plenty long enough to tell," said Bernat, who said he had not examined Schiavo or seen any videotapes. "Assuming she is in a vegetative state, I can say with medical certainty that there is no realistic hope that she'll recover."

He hasn't even seen the tapes let alone examined her and he's passing a judgement that she'll never recover. That's crazy.

---

Early in Schiavo's illness, her husband, Michael, sent her to California to have a nerve stimulator implanted

I wonder if he had a nerve SUPPRESSOR implanted. I simply don't trust him or anyone associated with him. Why are all these people doing his bidding. What power does he have over them. What is he holding over their heads. Is he a grand pooh-bah or something and they owe him allegience.

---

He added that keeping Schiavo alive artificially could be a burden on her, and that, paradoxically, the higher her level of consciousness, the greater the burden could be.

WAIT A MINUTE...The higher the consciousness...greater the burden...They say she has NO consciousness. Logically speaking, Mr. Spock, she has no burden so leave her alone and let her live. What a crock!!!

[CindyDawg]

Doesn't anyone ever look at this woman?

[Askel5]

wow ... that's one of the strangest footnotes to this story yet.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

The dr, like Velos, just isn't feeling the right vibes of kharmic energy.

[Normally a Lurker]

You asked me to ping you if/when I posted this article.

BTW, thanks again for the link.

[T'wit]

The article does not support the lurid headline.

[Yaelle]

Just anecdotally, in the course of your lives, haven't you all heard of or met people who were wrongly given a death sentence or who were told by medical professionals "She'll never walk again," and such? I know I have. If every negative medical prognosis came true, we would have quite a different world. We are never to give up on anyone.

Do civil rights stop at the epidermis, or do they include people whose "differences" go much deeper, as well?