Terri's husband isn't the enemy, guardian says

Orlando Sentinel ^ | February 25, 2005 | Mike Thomas

[EveningStar]

Wolfson's report is based on court files, depositions, medical records and interviews with everyone involved.

That said, I begin with the most explosive allegation:

Did Michael try to kill Terri?

Wolfson laughs. "No!"

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Wolfson's report states that in the four years after her collapse, Michael "had insistently held to the premise that Theresa could recover and the evidence is incontrovertible that he gave his heart and soul to her treatment and care . . . In late autumn of 1990, following months of therapy and testing and formal diagnoses of persistent vegetative state with no evidence of improvement, Michael took Theresa to California, where she received an experimental thalamic stimulator implant in her brain. Michael remained in California caring for Theresa during a period of several months."

Says Wolfson now: "Michael was adoring of her. One nursing home complained he was hostile and abusive of the staff in championing her care. She was immaculately kept. In 13 years, she never had one bedsore."

[Howlin]

The money to defend against the suits, comes from the pot being fought over.

Exactly! And someone not even named in the "will" can FORCE adjudication and spend even MORE of the money, unless you give them some "go away" money.

[out_of_control]

The issue in this article was ultimately about Michael's credibility and all he has supposedly done to care for his wife. Well... he lost all credibility when he quit on her. I hope no one does that to you.

[Just mythoughts]

My correction .... Senator Frist did not say CAT scan.

[Hildy]

For the 80th time, in absense of a written consent, in this case, I believe Terri should be released to her parents providing they care for her in their home, with their money. As long as she's being taken care of by the State, it will be a State issue. As far as me "supporting" this. There's no alternative. I would hope that they would give her morphine to speed it up. It's not a case of supporting, everything was done within the law. This has been almost 10 years in the making. This wasn't done in the dead of night. I think everyone's energies would be better spent trying to change the laws either way.

[Peach]

I know that Terri has had numerous CAT scans.

If Terri has an MRI done (and I'm assuming it's correct that she hasn't had one done), and the results are that she is PVS, then nothing has changed from all the other numerous neurological testing she has had done.

Is an MRI the only tool that hasn't been used to determine whether she's actually PVS?

[hope]

Please, any uneducated person can look at those video tapes and determine this women in not brain dead. My 8 year old can tell you this is wrong.

I guess Terri will never have the chance to prove otherwise due to so many who are hellbent on carrying out her wishes to be starved to death? If this was my child I'd be doing all I could do to save her too. It's inconceivable to me that this is even happening

All I can say is people better start making up wills real quick... There's gonna be alot more of this to come.

[Peach]

Frist yesterday said something that was completely wrong. At least based on my reading. I thought he did say CAT scan.

DeLay up.

[billbears]

"Testimony provided by members of the Schindler family included very personal statements about their desire and intention to ensure that Theresa remain alive . . . at any and all costs. Nearly gruesome examples were given, eliciting agreement by family members that in the event Theresa should contract diabetes and subsequent gangrene in each of her limbs, they would agree to amputate each limb and would then, were she to be diagnosed with heart disease, perform open-heart surgery. Within the testimony, as part of the hypothetical presented, Schindler family members stated that even if Theresa had told them of her intention to have artificial nutrition withdrawn, they would not do it."

Oh, that sound so much more humane...

"Theresa's neurological tests and CT scans indicate objective measures of the persistent vegetative state," the report says. "These data indicate that Theresa's cerebral cortex is principally liquid, having shrunken due to the severe anoxic trauma experienced 13 years ago."

Well that's pretty much it isn't it? Personally I would like to see a list of doctors supporting keeping this poor woman in this state, along with their credentials, on why they believe she shouldn't just be allowed to die. But heck why should we listen to doctors on this when we have politicians grandstanding by the minute? Surely the politicians know so much more than the doctors.

Let's see, morphine over the next two weeks and dying in peace versus having body parts cut off if necessary over time....

H, didn't know if you'd seen this article yet.

[Peach]

DeLay - bipartisan agreement. Think they've found a solution. Similar to bill passed in Senate Thursday with modification.

Been in frequent contact with both sides of aisle to find solution.

House working on a bill too.

Senator Reid has been helpful in Senate. The compromise has cut across all divisions in Congress. COnfident it addresses everyone's concersn and provide Terri an appropriate avenue in federal acourt. Confident it will provide nutrition to Terri as long as appeal goes on.

[Cold Heat]

Hildy is very disturbed to support this action.

No, the statements like that above, is what bullcrap consists of.

This method of death is the most used and most accepted of any, and it happens every hour of every day or every year for probably the last 5 thousand years or more.

Most often, it is done by the patient themselves.

[Hildy]

Nobody will do that to me, because I've made sure it will never get to that point. As a woman, I would never, ever want the people I love to sacrifice their lives to keep me in the State Terri is in. I love my family too much. IN MY OPINION, that is not a life. AGAIN, that is my opinion.

Now, I'm middle-aged. My husband is 66, it's a different story. Would I ever expect a 24 year old man to give up his life to sit by my bedside wiping the drool off my face and wiping my ass? The answer is no. If I loved him, I'd want him to lead a wonderful life. If I were the kind of woman who would want that, I wouldn't deserve a man like him.

[Just mythoughts]

"She has not had an MRI or a PET scan, which suggests she has not had a full neurological exam." According to Dr. Frist.

[Just mythoughts]

Listening.

[Hildy]

Then you don't know the legal definitino of brain dead.

[Hildy]

Then you don't know the legal definitino of brain dead.

[beyond the sea]

So, the Congressional members who are against activist judges are now.....er.....um....activists?

Yes, quite the activists.

[Peach]

James Oberstar (D) Minnesota Congressman:

Legislation does no harm. Leave the patient in the continuing care of hydration and nutrition while the long term matter (Appeal) is continuing.

Thinks it will be adopted by both bodies without extensive deliberation.

[Howlin]

I have seen it; and I see that you and I have once again found an issue we agree on. :-)

FWIW, this is her brain scan:

http://www.miami.edu/ethics2/schiavo/CT%20scan.png

[Just mythoughts]

Yes, I also noted his "nonprecedental" being required.

[Peach]

Steve King :

Hasn't seen this kind of intensity before. Admits he wasn't there 9/11/01.

Terri's rights must be guarded as carefully as a murderers. (I agree with that)