New Guardian Urged for Terri Schiavo, More Evaluation of Her Condition Needed

LifeNews.com ^ | December 2, 2003 | Steven Ertelt

[nickcarraway]

Tallahassee, FL (LifeNews.com) -- An independent guardian appointed for Terri Schiavo told Governor Jeb Bush Tuesday that she deserves a permanent guardian other than her estranged husband Michael. He also claimed Terri is in a permanent vegetative state, but added that she should be re-evaluated by experts.

Under Terri's Law passed by the state legislature, an independent guardian was authorized to provide Governor Bush with recommendations about Terri's situation.

On October 31, Chief Pinellas-Pasco Chief Judge David Demers appointed Dr. Jay Wolfson, a professor of health and law at Stetson University in Florida, as Terri's guardian ad litem, despite the suggestion of bias from Terri's family.

Wolfson submitted a lengthy thirty-page report to Bush on Tuesday.

According to a source familiar with the report, Wolfson describes Terri as being in a persistent vegetative state. However, numerous doctors say otherwise and videos made by Terri's parents show her responding to doctors and her family.

Dr. William Hammesfahr, a neurologist from Clearwater, where Terri was hospitalized, is a recognized national expert on PVS and is a Nobel prize nominee. He says Terri's eyes clearly fixate on her family and she tries to follow the simple commands her parents give her.

"She looks at you, she can follow commands," Hammesfahr said.

Wolfson says Terri should be granted a permanent guardian other than Michael Schiavo. Among other concerns, Terri's family says has denied her appropriate medical and rehabilitative care he was obligated to provide from a medical malpractice award he received.

Wolfson also said medical experts should be brought in to evaluate Terri's cognitive function and her rehabilitative abilities.

Following the passage of Terri's Law, Wolfson told WFTS-TV in Tampa, Florida: "If this law stands the constitutional test of the courts, then it certainly implies the executive of our state has the prerogative of injecting the state into your life, or your family member's life."

Pat Anderson, the family's attorney, later told LifeNews.com that they met with Wolfson and were "very hopeful he can get his work done in the thirty days given to him."

Related web sites:

Terri's family - http://www.terrisfight.org

[nickcarraway]

ping

[CFW]

Wolfson says Terri should be granted a permanent guardian other than Michael Schiavo

Yes!!!!

[wisconsinconservative]

Thanks for the ping Nick!

Is it just me or are the articles on Lifenews. com confusing??

Anyway, From what I understand from this article, the bottom line is Wolfson recommends Terri have a permanent guardian other than MS.

Wooo Hoooo for small victories!

[sweetliberty]

"An independent guardian appointed for Terri Schiavo told Governor Jeb Bush Tuesday that she deserves a permanent guardian other than her estranged husband Michael."

WooHoooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ping for some good news!

If you want on or off of this ping list, please let me know.

[Micavaga]

WOOOOHOOOOO!!!! YES!!!!!

God is watching down upon Terri!!

[Orlando]

YES !!!!!!!!!!!

MAJOR VICTORY !!!!!!!
THANK YOU GOD !!!

1 down, one to go...

[sweetliberty]

"He also claimed Terri is in a permanent vegetative state, but added that she should be re-evaluated by experts."

I don't believe that he is qualified to make that determination, but at least he was willing to defer to those who are. Question is, will she have the opportunity to be evaluated by someone chosen by her parents and not the HINO?

[Theodore R.]

Yes, Terri has had so few judicial victories. Of course, I suspect that the FL judges will now ignore this guardian ad-litem, as they did the earlier one. The FL judges can say that because Wolfson said Terri is "PVS," then there is no need to re-evaluate anything but proceed on with her destruction. Who decides whether to listen to Wolfon's recommendation anyway? Still a small victory this afternoon! Who knows what the liberal Baird court will decide later in the day? I had thought that Wolfson would side firmly with Schiavo-Felos, as he had indicated his opposition to Terri's Law at the outset.

[Wheee The People]

He also claimed Terri is in a permanent vegetative state,

Boy, will that upset the "all Terri, all the time" crowd here at FR.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Good news bump!

[headsonpikes]

Terri deserves a real guardian.

Come to think of it - so does Michael, although in his case he needs more of a guard than a guardian.

[LADY J]

There is power in prayer. Keep praying for this young lady. God will listen.

[FR_addict]

Great News! Thanks for the ping.

[isatoi]

AMEN, Thank You Jesus, Thank You Lord!!!!!!!!!!! This is a small step but it is a step in the right direction, Please continue your Prayer Chains!!!!!!!!!

[Cayenne]

An independent guardian appointed for Terri Schiavo told Governor Jeb Bush Tuesday that she deserves a permanent guardian other than her estranged husband Michael.

YES !!!!!!

[lonevoice]

I'm not sure why you think it should. Wolfson is an ATTORNEY, not a doctor or a healthcare professional of any sort. He was appointed for one purpose only: to evaluate the court documents on file and make a recommendation to Jeb Bush based on those. His conclusion that Terri is in a PVS is based entirely on the court record, much of which wasn't allowed into evidence. His conclusion that Terri needs to be medically re-evaluated for rehabilitation raises a strong possibility that he believes the court record doesn't accurately reflect her condition. If Terri's Law stands against the constitutional challenges of Felonious & Schyster, Terri will be re-evaluated by medical professionals as per Wolfson's recommendation.

Given that Wolfson started his appointment by making a public statement against the constitutionality of Terri's Law, I see this as a major victory for those who support Terri's right not to be killed by her husband.

[Simeonsdad]

Wonderful news...now pray it happens and Michael is stripped of his right to do anymore harm to Terri.

[atruelady]

We humbly thank you God for this miracle you are working before our very eyes. I am humbled at the thought of our Lord listening to prayers of us lowly humans in the hopes of saving one poor soul. We are blessed and I thank God that he finds us worthy to answer our prayers and help Terri!

[atruelady]

Doesn't upset my apple cart. He made that evaluation on documents set before him, but he added that she needs to be evaluated. So, even if he says she is PVS (based on what he was provided with) he left the door WIDE OPEN for someone to really investigate that particular item.