Replies

OK, sweetliberty, no problem. For me government's role in this is a big issue, not just a side issue as it is for you. I have only marginally more trust in the legislative branch than I do the judicial, ultimately I like the government to stay out of personal decisions as much as possible. This case will end up in the courts again and the decision may have far-reaching implications that I do not welcome. Once government gets a foot in a door it's very unusual for it to decide to back away, generally they will continue to encroach.

Most of the time in a decision such as this a family is able to come to a decision replicating what they believe the patient would have decided had she been able (most of the time death is fairly imminent - this case is different I know). What I do NOT want is the government or courts making a "one size fits all" decision, taking away the decision making from the family.

With all due respect, I think that Terri's law makes it difficult for the government to step in again except when certain conditions are met. Part of those conditions is that two "sides" of family members disagree about whether or not the feeding tube should have been removed in the first place. The law wasn't originally designed to cover the situation when the families disagreed. It was intended to give them permission when they did (agree).

Terri in 1990 St. Pete Times photo -- before Michael won the lawsuit and she lost.
May Terri achieve her freedom soon after all these years of justice denied.

Below are EXCERPTS -- please see PDF for original from friends of Terri website. Thanks to FL engineer, who found this!

Reports ‘transcribed’ to FreeRepublic

Physical Examination -- 6 - 27 - 90

*patient is awake, eyes are open
*easily startled to her name or when bedrail fell down
*significant amount of tone in the head and neck.
*severe hypertonicity of all four extremities; plantar flexor contractures, some shoulder limitation
*"again, tone is quite significant in all four extremities and difficult to achieve range of motion of the left hip and knee while she is in a supine position."
*she does give eye contact to family members
*she will close her eyes to any threatening response around her face and blink appropriately
*no verbal output during this exam but it has been reported by husband and other family members and therapists over at College Harbor.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Treatment Plan Review from Mediplex rehab, Bradenton, 1/29/91

*Vocalizing when prone in P.T. [physical therapy]
*Occasionally will say "STOP" to nursing during procedures.
*to TR [recreation?] groups. More relaxed to therapists voice, touch (habituation)

What I do NOT want is the government or courts making a "one size fits all" decision, taking away the decision making from the family.

That is one of the main problems in this case. A judge (Greer), for whatever reason, refuses to allow any meaningful evidence in FAVOR of Terri to be presented!

Judges ruling by fiat. NOT the American way as written in our Constitution.