Medical Affidavit
February 22, 2005
Jacob Green M.D. PhD. Neurologist Jacksonville Florida, Southeastern Neuroscience Institute, P.A.
Board certified Psychiatrist Post Graduate residency in neurology and neurological surgery. I have published 6 textbooks and more than 60 papers in various peer-reviewed journals.
I base my opinions about her condition on a review of her medical records and on scrutiny of a videotape of the patient dated January 22,2000. Mrs. Schiavo is not in a persistent vegetative state. Based on the fact that Mrs. Schiavo can look around, smile, and make verbalizations, it is my opinin that she is not in a persistent vegetative state.
Since the time of the original court’s ruling in the Terri Schiavo matter, a new neurological entity has, subsequently, been defined. This entity is known as “minimally conscious state,” (MCS). The American Academy of Neurology’s own journal has published four articles on this condition in the last several months.
This new diagnostic brain-damaged category clearly indicates that Terri Schiavo should be re-evaluated for the correct diagnosis, (MCS).
Since the court previously ruled that Terri is in a persistent vegetative state, new technology has become available to more accurately diagnose the current mental functioning of a patient. This new technology, which is called functional magnetic resonance imaging or FMRI, can measure brain activity by creating multidimensional images of blood flow to various parts of the activated brain. For the first time, doctors using the MRI may predict a patients capability for emerging or recovering form those who do not, and also to guide us in therapeutic techniques and strategies that would help a patient recover from a minimally conscious state.
Terri Schiavo deserves the opportunity to be treated for her minimally conscious state condition and she deserves to have the benefit of new technology that was not available prior to the court’s original ruling on her condition.
Medical Affidavit
March 3, 2005
Carolyn Heron M.D. Physical, Medical and Rehabilitation (PMR) doctor. Teaching physical diagnosis and treatment to students at Pilsen Family Medicine in Chicago.
I have seen videotapes of Ms. Schiavo on the news and judged her behaviors and facial expressions. I have also read a number of articles regarding her situation.
Based on my opinion Ms. Schiavo is not in a persistent vegetative state (PVS). Someone in a vegetative state does not respond appropriately to stimuli around her, and does not move voluntarily. A PVS patient may have a following with her eyes, but it does not translate into a facial response. There is no processing of information. Ms. Schiavo does show appropriate facial response to stimuli. She also sits up independently. These behaviors are not consistent with someone in a vegetative state. Therefore, she is at least in a minimally conscious state (MCS). I believe she is better than minimally conscious.
Ms. Schiavo does not choke on her saliva, therefore she has some swallowing function. This is also inconsistent with PVS. It cannot be assumed that Ms. Schiavo will not be able to live without the feeding tube. There are techniques for learning how to swallow. Furthermore she may have some ability now. There is also a method to swalling without aspirating. If the patient sits up straight and swallows using a thick substance she may be able to learn how to swallow.
I would not use the term “vegetative” in describing Ms. Schiavo. She is at least stage two, possible three, on the Rancho Los Amigos Scale.