Posted on 03/29/2005 9:45:05 PM PST by flixxx
TRANSCRIPT Updated: 4:04 p.m. ET March 29, 2005 The overwhelming majority in the medical community say Terri Schiavo has close to no brain activity and has no chance of regaining awareness. Dr. Ronald Cranford, who actually examined Terri Schiavo in 2002 and testified to her condition, joined "The Abrams Report" on Monday. Cranford is the assistant chief of neurology at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis as well as a faculty member at the University of Minnesota's Center for Bioethics. Below is the transcript of their conversation.
DAN ABRAMS, HOST: You're one of the few people who has actually examined Terri Schiavo and you're hearing all of these people who are coming on from the sidelines saying, "She's has been misdiagnosed," et cetera. How confident are you in your diagnosis and why?
DR. RONALD CRANFORD, UNIV. OF MN NEUROLOGIST: I'm extremely confident. I think at the time of the trial in 2002 there had been eight neurologists who examined her. And of those eight neurologists total, seven of them said beyond any doubt whatsoever Terri is in a vegetative state. Her CT scan shows severe atrophy or shrinkage of the brain. Her EEG is flat and there's absolutely no doubt that she's been in a permanent vegetative state ever since 1990. There's no doubt whatsoever, Dan.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
"The nurse that was on record also testified that her notes would be gone the next day, after recording her observations. How convenient."
Sure everything is a big conspiracy. What is more convenient for the nurse is that HER notes "were missing." Try to put your emotion aside and be rational. Consider: A woman thought to be in PVS starts talking. You don't think EVERYBODY in the hospital/hospice would know about this? All the doctors? EVERYBODY would know. It would be huge news. The nurses wouldn't just note the file, they would tell EVERYBODY and it wouldn't be a secret. That's in part why the Judge knew the nurse was lying.
Didn't you read the documents from the nurse's aides and other nurses?
I deal with TBI's (Traumatic Brain Injury) on a daily basis and have for the past 20yrs. (moreso in the past 10) I watch the comatose and supposed PVS "wake up". Some to higher degrees than others. Recently, I've watched a baby that was so "neuro devastated" to the point that the Dr's decided to medicate him and let him die...who "all of a sudden", got better and went home.
You've already decided that it just can't be.... because it doesn't fit nicely in your world. You'd be amazed at what goes on behind the scenes when things don't "fit" the way management wants it to go........ and yes, to the point of mysteriously missing documentation. I've had it happen to me and so have others.
I can agree, my point was significant atrophy of the brain is irrelevant to the point of being a human being under the law
The was a post stating that many here on the "Terri Schiavo has a right to food and water side" seems to think if given a chance she rise up and ask for a "Big Mac" ...That seemed to imply the "right right to food and water" side reasons are irrational ...as you say
You don't know what I think.
Oddly by court order no one is allowed to bring a "Big Mac" in her room and hold it up to her mouth to see if she might like a bite...I personal find the idea that the "taking a bite is not proof of a person wants... you must reach for or ask for food or else it is artificial life support" line of thinking irrational
can't ask for food, can't reach for food, can't have food....
Man, I gotta tell you...your reading comprehension sucks. I don't think it's okay to "kill" anyone. I do think it is not only right, but proper to allow people to make end of life decisions in the best interests of their loved ones when a written directive is not present. I would remind you (and I'm sure you are completely unaware) that written directives are often ignored by family members who still hold out hope or refuse to let go. It is ultimately the responsibility of the family to ensure that the patients dignity, rights and desires are honored. What you feel about it is irrelvant.
...who's next? Me??
If I were your family member, I might have to come to the determination based on what I've read on this thread that your level of cognizance is no higer than a carrot.
Yep. A Quack and a prevaricator.
No, that would be the Schindlers.
I keep hearing about "Terri's estate". What estate would that be? Schiavo owes more money than is remaining in her trust. How does that help make Michael a multi-millionare for "offing" his wife?
Logic is our friend.
And I don't understand your inabiliity to put away the hysterical emoting and come to the realization that what made Terri, "Terri" died 15 years ago and y'all are desperatedly trying to preserve the shell through artificial means even though it serves NO benefit to the "patient". Why can't you people just release her body? Terri's been gone for 15 years and this "weekend at Terri's" garbage is sickening and pathetic.
Our reading comprehension doesn't suck, it's just that you are not making any sense.
If they did not pull the feeding tube and prohibit any attempt at oral intake, would TS be dead in 2 weeks? NO.
Therefore, she was killed (you will notice I did not say 'murdered').
There is a major difference between passive non-intervention in the natural course of an illness (say if she developed pneumonia and they did not provide antibx or put her on a ventilator) and restricting a human being ANY source of nutrition/hydration.
Whether you accept it as 'killing' her or not does not alter the fact that she was 'killed' by the active removal of nutrition.
I don't think Michael Schiavo is the best guardian either but it is the law that the spouse is the closest next of kin.
Those are the facts the court has to go with whether we like it or not.
I did read the link btw. It was interesting, thanks for posting it.
Concerned, perhaps you misunderstood me. All I said was the scan shows significant atropy.
I did not attempt to diagnose Terri.
Sorry about your injury. I'm glad you had a doctor that took good care of you. I hope you recovered fully.
Tammy
Oops I forgot! I meant to comment on difficult that must have been to confess in public that you agree with Nadar!
LOL! That must have been horrible, just horrible.
My heart goes out to you my friend!
Tammy
Perhaps you misunderstood me. All I said was the scan clearly shows significant atrophy and it does.
I did not attempt to diagnose Terri.
Samwise, all I said was the scan shows significant atrophy. I did not make any sort of judgment as to her capabilites.
I made no value judgments. I said the scan shows significant atrophy and it does.
The law says the spouse is the closest next of kin, not me.
I did not give my personal opinion as to what should be done nor will I.
I made no attempt to diagnose Terri in any way. All I said was that the scan showed significant atrophy.
The scan is from Terri's medical records.
I will not give my personal opinion of what should be done, but I will say this.
I am not a conspiracy theorist.
Very good post raygun.
TexasFlower
Thanks! Just keep it between you and I. I have a reputation on FreeRepublic to consider!
DK
I did address that scan in post 16. I don't care to go back and find it for you though. You can do that if you wish.
Do you not see the difference in those two scans?
Hint. Look at the areas of Terri's brain that look sort of like leaves on a young plant and the areas that just look like squiggles.
There is much more deterioration in Terri's scan.
Does he even suggest that he's a fair and impartial host on this show? It is to laugh if he does.
That's the truth! Your entire post was well said.
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