Medical Affidavit
March 3, 005
L. Ralph Ankerman MD, Psychiatrist, Madison County Hospital, London Ohio
New drug Namenda, became available in 2004, may be of help to Terri.
March 3, 2005
Beatrice Engstrand M.D, Neurology, private practice Huntington New York
Assistant Professor of Neurology New York Medical College
Founder and President of the Neuro-Degenerative Disease Foundation
I trained under Fred Plum M.D. wo originally popularized the term, “vegetative state”.
I base my opinion about her condition on extended experience and knowledge working with patients in similar conditions, including the Central Park jogger case in Manhattan in 1989.
Based on my opinion, and limited knowledge regarding her case, I believe that there is a definite possibility that Mrs. Schiavo is not in a persistent vegetative state because the television show that I watched, she seems to be consciously aware. I think she is minimally conscious at least. She may even be conscious.
Mrs. Schiavo needs to be evaluated in order to determine her level of cognitive functioning. A PET scan or an FMRI (functional MRI), and an EEG would be helpful.