Neurologists see little sign of activity in Schiavo's brain

KRT Wire ^ | 3.23.05

[ambrose]

Posted on Wed, Mar. 23, 2005

Neurologists see little sign of activity in Schiavo's brain

BY BOB LAMENDOLA

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - (KRT) - Scans of Terri Schiavo's brain show that the great majority of her gray matter where thinking and feeling occur has died off and been replaced by watery fluid, with no chance of growing back, neurologists said.

About 70 to 90 percent of Schiavo's upper brain is gone, and there's also damage to her lower brain that controls instinctive functions like breathing and swallowing, said three Florida neurologists who viewed 12 of her CT "computed tomography" X-ray scans Tuesday and Wednesday.

"This is as severe brain damage as I've ever seen," said Dr. Leon Prockop, a professor and former chairman of neurology at the University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa, upon viewing the scans.

[Daisy4]

I read a report from a neurologist who said an MRI would be needed to diagnose PVS. Are you saying this is not so?

[msuMD]

According to her husband and according to the law that's all I need. Again, I deal with this similar senario several times yearly.

[nmh]

They ought to take a look at a liberals brain.

I'd bet they'd see the same thing

"little sign of activity"


but they're no starving them to death.

[tomahawk]

I'm not disputing that if a person clearly expresses their wishes on this (preferably in writing) their wishes should not be respected.

I believe that in this case, the estranged husband never said that she said she wanted her life ended in these cirucmstances until 7 years after the fact.

Also, numerous family members and friends said that she said the exact opposite and that as long as there is life there is hope. She was commenting expressly about the Karen Quinlan case.

[imfleck]

If by "rush to kill her" you mean 15 years, then they're in a "rush to kill her."

[Dave S]

The brain rewires itself.

Not when is liquid.

[Dr. Frank fan]

I'm done with you. Medical degree...A2.

Hey, that's one sentence. One out of two ain't bad. Anyhow, I am suitably awed by the genius you've put on display here, rest assured.

Once again, let me know if you ever actually wish to express anything of significance to me.

[eeriegeno]

If she has 70-90% of her upper brain gone, then she has 10-30% of the upper brain that is NOT gone.

Wait a minute, I thought that another doctor said that the entire cortex was destroyed and was filled with spinal fluid? Was that doctor wrong? Is this doctor wrong? How many other doctors were wrong? Have the judges listened to these doctors who were wrong to make their decision to kill this lady? May the Lord have mercy on their souls for the sin that they are committing.......

[Cicero]

I don't know how they would know. According to all the stories I have read, she has had only a CAT scan, and that is insufficient to show what condition her brain is in. Michael Schiavo has refused to let any proper tests be done using MRI.

This sounds like an echo of what was said earlier by Dr. Death.

[feedback doctor]

but I don't see what keeping her alive by mechanical means is going to do.

popdonnelly is absolutely right. Take her off the life support machines. Just give her nutrition and water

[msuMD]

Yes. PVS is a state, not a pathological disease diagnosed on an image study.

[DaGman]

"The brain rewires itself."

From the article:
Neurons do not grow back. The brain can rewire itself so that remaining healthy tissues take over functions that had been done by the cells that died. But if that were happening, it would have shown in Schiavo's behavior by now, said Dr. Michael T. Pulley, an assistant neurology professor at Shands Jacksonville Hospital, affiliated with the University of Florida medical school.

[AirForceMom]

People need to learn the difference between assisting someone mercifully to a peaceful end as opposed to "killing them". Ask yourself what you would want if in her position.

Dehydration and starvation is not a merciful end. Terri is being tortured, right here in America.

[Dr. Frank fan]

Well, no kidding. The observation technique used does not disclose brain activity. A dead brain and a live brain look the same on a CAT scan.

Dang... I can't believe you're the first person to catch that. Good point.

[msuMD]

Many family members exhaust all means possible to a recovery by physical therapy, speech therapy, rehab, etc...before realizing that recovery is not possible. Sometimes 7 years.

[Brilliant]

The experts say, though, that the CT is not nearly as accurate as the MRI, and there is no MRI in this case because the judge refused to order one.

[BedRock]

How about an EEG???

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

NO. She said she didn't want to live like this. Period. I deal with this everyday. In fact have removed lifesupport and PEG tubes every year in the same senarios.

THERE'S your problem. And you didn't respond. If the government decides that is not acceptable you will have to stop doing it. The government decides when it becomes your decision.

[Keeley Finn]

Thats sad for you. I'm sorry. You make an excellent point though.

[McGavin999]

Yes, I know that Michael has been trying to kill her for a long time. But massive strides have been made in medicine, especially in understanding the brain, in the last 5 years. Terri hasn't had the benefit of a PET scan or an MRI. Why? There are conflicting diagnosis, yet the only one considered is the ones that say she is PVS, why no consideration of those with more recent neurologocial expertice? How long would it take to run a PET scan so everyone would know for sure what her condition is?

What's the rush? When MS got his medical settlement, they estimated Terri would live for 40 years. Still, with food, she will live 20 to 40 years. She is not dying, she's just inconvenient.