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Schiavo's brain show that the great majority of her gray matter where thinking and feeling occur has died off and been replaced by watery fluid, with no chance of growing back, neurologists said.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

[McGavin999]

They would have been wrong then too. Have you read the latest diagnosis from the neurologist who just examined her?

[Fitzcarraldo]

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

This can be helped by therapy - something her husband denied her.

[MarMema]

Keeley, why didn't you see him when he was dying? This is not an attack, but genuine questions.

I have read everything I could find and then some about your father. I would like to know more about what he was like, and what that time period was like for you.

[msuMD]

who?

[Dr. Frank fan]

I'm sorry you can't comprehend a simple sentence, that's unfortunate.

The operative word being "simple". That it was. It's called autonomy. See Spot run.

Let me know if you wish to express anything of significance to me.

[Keeley Finn]

Well I don't know much about medicine, but wouldn't that be kind of like an arm growing back?

[GovernmentShrinker]

She needs a "functional MRI" or the other type of test (can't recall the name), which shows the actual brain activity in progress, rather than just a still picture of the brain at one instance. If this were done while she was being prompted to react by her parents, it would clearly show whether her apparent reactions were actually the result of activity in the little remaining thinking part of her brain, or just reflexes as some neurologists believe. If there really isn't anything conscious happening up there, then by all means remove the tube and let her go. But it sure would be a lot easier for her parents to accept, if the most sophisticated tests were performed before a decision was made to withdraw sustenance.

[murdoog]

It's almost as if Terri knows the real story on Vince Foster's death

Boy, this would explain a lot!

[tomahawk]

I don't have their names, but my understanding is that a good number of them were neurologists who did not believe that the Court-appointed doctors who examined her did a sufficient job and that she should be re-examined now.

What's the harm in that?

Also, at least one Noble-prize nominated neurologist who spent 10 hours with her says that she is not in a PVS.

All I'm saying is that there ARE conflicting medical opinions on this question, and a life is in the balance. It seems to me that she should be re-examined in light of this.

[msuMD]

Where did you get your medical degree from? What's your speciality?

[sinkspur]

Have you read the latest diagnosis from the neurologist who just examined her?

Yep. Dueling doctors.

[Fitzcarraldo]

The rewired part - therapy can help the brain to readjust to injury and find other neural pathways.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

I'm glad to hear you say that and I agree with you that it should be a personal decision.

Here is the logic that you Brainiacs fail to grasp:

Sometimes killing somebody a little sooner IS a personal decision. BUT... The decision of when killing someone BECOMES a personal decision rather than murder is a GOVERNMENT decision and that is what is at issue. Government decides when it is appropriate, the standard of proof and conduct and by whom. If killing someone were always a personal decision then anyone could kill you right now. So the mantras about "personal decisions" and "less government" are misleading slogans and simple-minded inanities.

[msuMD]

Like the 15 other doctors, have any of these doctors examined her?

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Because courts, my friend, aren't perfect. Need I remind you of these goofs by the Supreme Court (that all knowing body that never makes a mistake): Scott v. Sanford, Plessy v. Ferguson, Roe v. Wade, Lawrence v. Texas. With a track record like that, who wouldn't support the all- knowing courts?/sarcasm

[Fitzcarraldo]

It seems to me that she should be re-examined in light of this.

I agree.

[whenigettime]

So what, or has that been said already? Scientists, doctors, professors or what have you with medical degrees, expert degrees can say what they want but only the most intellectually honest of them will have to say that they don't know how the brain really works. Terri is able to respond to her environment. Yes, she is severely limited but her body is not rotting away as does in one who has a truly dying brain. And since this country is so "into" wanted children and choice, so what if she is with a truly dying brain..... her parents want her, what is so hard to get about that?

[popdonnelly]

Face it, the woman's not going to improve. I pity all people in that situation, but I don't see what keeping her alive by mechanical means is going to do.

[McGavin999]

But you'd be willing to kill her on the off chance that the guy you're backing is right? Is life so cheap to you sinkspur?

I'm confused, all these years I had the impression you were Catholic.