DCF: Terri Schiavo Not Abused, Exploited

ABC/AP ^ | 4.16.05

[ambrose]

DCF: Terri Schiavo Not Abused, Exploited

State Agency: Terri Schiavo Was Not Abused or Exploited by Either Side of Her Family

By VICKIE CHACHERE

The Associated Press

Apr. 16, 2005 - State investigators found no evidence that Terri Schiavo had been abused or exploited by either side of her family, according to documents released by Florida's Department of Children and Families.

The agency investigated 89 complaints dating back to 2001, when Schiavo's feeding tube was removed for the first time and the legal battle surrounding her right-to-die case intensified.

The calls alleged that the brain-damaged woman was being mistreated by her husband and her parents for financial gain. One complaint alleged that Schiavo's parents were selling videos of her through a Web site; another said Schiavo's husband wasn't spending money intended for her rehabilitation.

But investigators said they found no evidence that either her husband or parents were exploiting her, and often noted in their records that they found Schiavo well cared for on their visits to her Pinellas Park hospice.

The agency released the records Friday under court order.

Schiavo, 41, died last month after her feeding tube was removed for the third time, ending a bitter court battle between her husband, Michael Schiavo, and parents, Robert and Mary Schindler, over whether she would have wanted to live in a vegetative state.

The repeated allegations of abuse were based partly on bone scans showing Terri Schiavo suffered fractures and statements she made to family and friends that she was unhappy in her marriage.

Schiavo's husband has denied harming his wife. His lawyer said the fractures resulted from osteoporosis caused by the woman's years of immobility and complications of her medication.

Robert Schindler declined to comment there on the release of the DCF documents. An attorney for Michael Schiavo did not immediately return calls.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Copyright © 2005 ABC News Internet Ventures

[Peach]

No it's not. I read the direct quotes from family members who couldn't take their loved ones in a wheelchair in the garden because of the noise. The young man who was interviewed said his father died the next week. Other family members said it was disturbing to hear "murderer" yelled into bullhorns repeatedly. School classes had to be held elsewhere. Local businesses were affected...adversely.

So just because you were there and part of the horde, don't try to re-write history. I'll believe various reporters and family members before I'll believe a word you say, Eternal Vigilance.

And, as I recall, you were going to leave FR. So your word isn't worth a whole lot.

[restornu]

"Now it's Terri's fault she was killed because she didn't marry the right person?

LOL!!!!!!"

*****

Sadly PNSN I read her next answer....this person is full of themself! Clearly Boasting; Conceit; Hardheartedness; Haughtiness have all taken turns in nipping at Terri!...

Lev. 26: 19 I will break the pride of your power.
Deut. 8: 14 (Ezek. 28: 2) thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord.
Ps. 10: 4 wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God.
Prov. 6: 17 A proud look.
Prov. 8: 13 pride, and arrogancy . . . I hate.
Prov. 13: 10 Only by pride cometh contention.
Prov. 16: 18 Pride goeth before destruction.
Isa. 2: 12 day of the Lord . . . upon every one that is proud.
Isa. 5: 21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes.
Isa. 16: 6 (Jer. 48: 29) We have heard of the pride of Moab.
Isa. 65: 5 I am holier than thou.
Jer. 13: 9 will I mar the pride of Judah.
Jer. 13: 15 give ear, be not proud.
Ezek. 16: 49 this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride.
Dan. 4: 37 those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

[EternalVigilance]

Yeah, add it to my dossier, mein herr.

[EternalVigilance]

And, as I recall, you were going to leave FR. So your word isn't worth a whole lot.

Your 'recall' really sucks.

[verity]

You should have remained a lurker. ;-)

[joesbucks]

You can be on the right side of an issue and the wrong side of tactical. I'm surprised, given your background of you not knowing this.

[EternalVigilance]

There are many liberties yet to be denied by lawyers and judges who now hold all the aces. Problem is: when they're wrong (and I feel they were in this case) how do you kick their arses?

Liberals will have a field-day with the all-powerful, legislating from the bench, activist judges that will make their way to the highest courts. The greatest threat to our republic has reared it's ugly head again and for this, I thank Terri and her family for their sacrifice.

I'm continually gratified to see that many do understand the true broad implications of what happened to Terri.

[bvw]

Interesting.

[joesbucks]

No, they let her die. What would have happened to her 25 or 50 years ago before feeding tubes? Did they let people in Terri's condition die then? It was just as painful, it was just as horrible, it was still starvation and dehydration. And yet someone like Terri passed everyday.

One thing the culture of lifers refuse to deal with is the possibility, no the liklihood that Terri's condiditon was brought on by her dieting regimine. If that was the cause of her condition, then Terri had a hand in that killing. If her actions cause that condition, then she would be alive today. Judge Greer wouldn't have heard the case. The various legislatures and executive branches wouldn't have been put in an unwinnable position. If that is the situation, her dietary or eating habits brought this on, then she too had a hand in her killing. Two wrongs don't make a right, but sometimes a wrong brings on another wrong.

[ContraryMary]

...if they, at least, were upset by the judge writing an order forbidding anyone to bring anything near her mouth. and kept security officers in the room to make sure that Terri never felt a drop of water on her lips.

Water on parched lips is not an extraordinary measure. The forbidding of it is certainly extraordinary.

I'll say that it should have not been so, but I'll also say the Schindlers were partly responsible. If they hadn't whipped up such a media circus -- something they are ENTIRELY to blame for -- many of the orders would not have been necessary. It doesn't help anyone -- least of all Terri -- to have some whack job claim that because a few drops of water made it down her throat successfully, bypassing her lungs, that is evidence she could swallow. It would have started another round of pointless and fruitless court battles.

When you admit that the Schindlers created much of the media circus themselves and that they have to live with the consequences of that, then I'll glady admit that Terri should have had at least a damp cloth to relieve the parchment of her mouth and tongue.

[EternalVigilance]

Remember when apples were apples and oranges were oranges and people treated them as such?

Remember when people were people and fruit was fruit, and people knew the difference?

[bvw]

I think he went to nursing school to get better control of the situation, once she had been left in his care. Ever read Joe Conrad's stuff?

[joesbucks]

I've said it all along that both sides of the Terri issue have no idea what her wishes would have been. However, if she did say that she would not have wanted to live as she has lived for the past 15 plus years, would you have supported that decision. And the method that would have been necessary to allow her wishes?

[bvw]

I'll glady admit that Terri should have had at least a damp cloth to relieve the parchment of her mouth and tongue.

A statement like that deserves applause.

[EternalVigilance]

You can be on the right side of an issue and the wrong side of tactical. I'm surprised, given your background of you not knowing this.

Thanks for conceding that I'm on the right side of this issue.

And sometimes what appears to be good tactics leads to disaster.

In this case, our leaders have been short-sighted unto blindness.

Sacrificing everything in the service of short-term tactics is ultimately stupid and very dangerous.

[bvw]

The answer to your question is this:

Suicide and assisted suicide ("felos de se") is illegal and immoral.

No matter how many of today's probate judges and appelate judges rule otherwise.

[ContraryMary]

Terri planned on leaving him.

So how do you explain the evidence -- testimony and doctors' bills -- showing that she and Michael were trying to have a baby? From all I've read, it does look like they had their ups and downs -- and Terri may have even at one time toyed with the idea of leaving. But the irrefutable evidence shows they were trying to have a baby.

[greccogirl]

Could someone explain to me that if there were 89 complaints and the DCF found no basis for any of them, why did they then ask for 60 days to investigate abuse and requested her feeding tube be put back in?

Listen folks, my Mom was in a nursing home for three years. If you don't think people in it were abused, you are really whistling dixie. I reported two incidents myself, and nothing was done. Give me a break.

Before I would believe it I would like to see what "abuse" was suspected and how it was "discounted".

I still want to see how in the name of God someone is kept in a hospice for FIVE YEARS who doesn't have a terminal illness?

[ContraryMary]

I don't know what her wishes were but I don't like the way he lied for the money.When he did that it made me question his motives.

And what about the fact that Bob Schindler demanded half the settlement money and stated he would get a lawyer in order to obtain the money? There were monetary motives on both sides.

[Peach]

Just like your false claims that there wasn't a lot of disruption around the hospice.

BTW, for a so called Christian, your language leaves a lot to be desired.