Michael Schiavo Poised To Sue Caregivers

Tampa Bay Online ^ | 8/10/05 | David Sommer

[marshmallow]

CLEARWATER - Michael Schiavo has asked a court to waive the two-year statute of limitations on filing a medical malpractice lawsuit against one or more of his deceased wife's caregivers.

Terri Schiavo, 41, died March 31 after her feeding tube was removed after a seven-year court battle.

Schiavo's attorney in this case, Mark Perenich, said he was not able to discuss the proposed lawsuit behind Tuesday's request for an extension of the two-year statute of limitations.

By law, medical malpractice lawsuits must be filed within two years of the alleged misconduct unless an extension is granted.

In October 2003, Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed on court order. Doctors reinserted it on orders from Gov. Jeb Bush.

[T'wit]

>> Hey, why so hard on Schiavo?

Another challenging-but-delightful parlor game is born!

10. Because the Cubs had the day off.
9. I'm sick of Dungeons and Dragons.
8. Star Trek is out of syndication in my area.
7. Out of 100 public school graduates, none is literate and only one knows how to spell "lose."
6. Helen Thomas is having PMS and I don't want to GO there.
5. Postal workers in western Bolivia are on strike.
4. Armed space aliens are attacking Berkeley and nobody has noticed.
3. Comet Kohoutek was such a disappointment.
2. Janet Reno stood next to Charlie Crist, and Crist says George Greer is a hero, and Greer thinks Michael Schiavo is innocent, but nobody else does.
1. Michael is really creepy.

[pickyourpoison]

for later

[T'wit]

Hey, FV, check this out:

Woman's Tube Pulled, Man Commits Suicide

[yellowdoghunter]

LOL! Great post! I see the defenders of Michael are getting fewer and fewer. That is a good thing. I really can't believe MS would even think about suing again after all that has happened. It is defintely for the money, how could anyone not see that? Anyone with a shred of decency would leave this alone.

[bjs1779]

He's never been able to hold a good job? Prove it. I've never read anything of the sort.

Yup, he was a dead beat. Couldn't hold a job, leached off the Shindlers. It's in court transcripts.

[Wampus SC]

Maybe they're getting some sense now that their man MS is busily proving that their defenses of him were wrong. Now the only MS supporters left are those who are the slowest on the uptake and least effective.

[Shortstop7]

You have no idea what this man has been through.

He's been through about $600,000 by what I'm reading here. But heck, he's a good guy. Salt of the earth, ya know.

Why are you on here spouting about the wonderful Schiavo anyway? What's your agenda? It's obvious you don't agree with most on this board, so why bother? You seem to know an awful lot about the money he has made. Odd.

[KDD]

Anyone with a shred of decency would leave this alone.

Oh the irony...LMAO.

C. Richard Bowers, MD Published April 17, 2005

Sarasota, Fla. -- After more than four decades of my treading the halls of medical pavilions as a physician, I can unashamedly say that I have, indeed, seen it all. In her unfortunate circumstances, Terri Schiavo is not the first nor the last to experience such terminal care.

Speaking with Sarasota physicians, plus my many personal encounters in essentially identical circumstances, solidly reaffirms my impressions that media magnification, irrational personal fantasizing (bordering on hysteria), reprehensible bottom-line exploiters and, sadly, political opportunists, all contributed to an ugly, public, two-week, moralistic frenzy here in Florida.

As an intern, 60 years ago, I first saw decent, honorable medical-care providers respond to a caring family's request to "let Dad go." I would see this happen to "Jimmy," "Grandpa," "Aunt Elsie," "Bubba" and many more over the years as loving families and caregivers simply "let go."

There were no magic plugs to pull in those days. Performing triage and surgical care in a combat zone years later forced some of us, in the absence of family, to make frequent "Schiavo-like" decisions in a matter of minutes. In one 24-hour period, three of us processed more than 200 surgical casualties in one receiving area. Inundation with combat casualties blurs that fine line between skills and instincts. You strain for the very best. You literally cry for God's help.

That inherent love of life haunted every medical caregiver I've ever known and none of us was immune to second-guessing, or tears.

So many of us have been there, done that--and it's never easy.

In America alone, a brain-ravaged soul departs this life, in circumstances comparable to Terri Schiavo's, every few minutes. While you have been reading this, nine or 10 such patients, at least, have stepped into eternity.

An IV discontinued. A feeding tube removed. A respirator disconnected.

It will continue ad infinitum.

I am so grateful that the definitive medical caregivers, at least here in America, are so capable, so virtuous, so loving. Unwanted and unwarranted intrusions into matters so very personal by politicians, legislators and the media are shameful and offensive.

Chicago Tribune (http://www.chicagotribune.com/)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/chi-0504170484apr17,1,4485224.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

For those involved, it took years of anguish, debate, and court hearings to finally let Terri go. The rest of us have no business in the affair.

[Hildy]

He's been through about $600,000 by what I'm reading here. But heck, he's a good guy. Salt of the earth, ya know.

It seems it's your side that's obsessed with the money aspect. MS did what anybody would have done in the same situation. It's our crappy legal system, which is another debate.

Why are you on here spouting about the wonderful Schiavo anyway? What's your agenda? It's obvious you don't agree with most on this board, so why bother?

Why bother? I've been under the impression since I first posted here in 1998 that FR is a DISCUSSION forum, not a pep rally for certain causes. When I discuss this issue I try to stick to facts and give the other side of this issue which, by the way, the majority of the people in this country agree with me. I do it because it's interesting. And when I do it, I'm been called all kinds of names and accused of unthinkable acts.

[TAdams8591]

"MS did what anybody would have done in the same situation."

No he didn't do what anybody else would have done in his situation. No good and decent person would have done what Michael did. I know several good and decent people, with family members who were in in Terri's situation. Rehab was slow and took a number of years. While their loved ones did not return their former selves, they improved greatly. And like my friend says, her husband is FAR happier than he was prior to his accident despite his physical and mental impairment. They did NOT neglect their loved ones and allow them to languish and deteriorate the way Michael did.

Michael didn't even want Terri treated for urinary tract infections and pneumonia (the kind of "facts" you have chosen to ignore). That's what anybody else would have done? I don't think so.

You lack the ability to make proper judgments, Hildy. Your opinion of this case (and yes you should be able to express them on these threads) is and always has been, way off. Part of the reason for that is that you are NOT a moral conservative.

[Hildy]

I am a bit more realistic when it comes to social issues, and I'm proud of what I stand for. I do not believe it is compassionate to keep someone alive in Teri's condition indefinitely. If that makes me a monster you your eyes, so be it. I believe it's cruel and only serves the people who think they're doing the right thing. I've never ever said anything else. But we're just going around in circles here.

I just wanted to clarify that when I said MS did what anybody would do in his situation, I meant on the legal front. Lawsuits like this are common everyday occurrences. I personally think it's a terrible thing for our society, but it's the way it is.

[TAdams8591]

"I do not believe it is compassionate to keep someone alive in Teri's condition indefinitely."

And that is the crux of your opinion about Terri. It was NEVER about the facts, or what Terri wanted, and has always been about what YOU wanted and what YOU think is best. As I said to you before, for YOU it was NEVER for a moment about Terri. You are entitled to your opinion no matter the basis. You are NOT entitled to be disingenuous about your reasons for it.

[BykrBayb]

I do not believe it is compassionate to keep someone alive in Teri's condition indefinitely.

Was it wrong when the Nazis murdered disabled people? If you think it was wrong, is that only because Jews were next on the list, or because you really think it's wrong to murder disabled people? If you thought the U.S. would take the same next step the Nazis did, would you be singing a different tune? Do you approve of that portion of the Holocaust that only involved exterminating disabled people?

[BykrBayb]

I try to stick to facts and give the other side of this issue which, by the way, the majority of the people in this country agree with me.

You do not stick to the facts, but 9% of people in this country still agree with you. That's an awfully high number, but still not a majority.

[Hildy]

Where on earth did you come up with 9%?

[amdgmary]

Dr. Ronald Cranford aka "Dr. Death" is hosting a seminar in Minneapolis on September 22-23, 2005 entitled "33 Years of Clinical Ethics in Minnesota: Ron Cranford's Stories of Heroes and Courage".

Michael Schiavo is featured as one of the speakers. Schiavo and Jay Wolfson (guardian ad litem) will give a talk on Terri.

10:15 – 12:00 Landmark Cases: The Family Perspective
Christine Busalacchi in Missouri
Pete Busalacchi
Terri Schiavo in Florida
Michael Schiavo and Jay Wolfson

You can download a pdf of the conference schedule here

Ronald Cranford (a doctor responsible for a great many feeding tube removals and who proposes hastening the deaths of Alzheimer's patients) touts Michael Schiavo as a "hero" or someone of "courage."

Jay Wolfson was (supposedly) an independent Guardian ad Litem, appointed by Chief Justice David Demers, over the objections of Terri Schiavo's family. Their objections stemmed from comments Wolfson made, prior to his appointment, that illustrated his bias towards removing Terri's feeding tube.

[bjs1779]

From your article:

"I am so grateful that the definitive medical caregivers, at least here in America, are so capable, so virtuous, so loving. "

It is worth noting that not one judge ever seen this woman before they sentenced to death. So loving, uh? Terri with her dad

[KDD]

Persistent delusion is a mental aberration that many advocates of the continued force feeding of Mrs Schiavo seem to share. That and their seeming inability to process simple logic or to even have the capacity to read and comprehend facts that are in the public domain render any attempt at rational dialog with them impossible.

It is a morbid obsession on their part and responding to them only makes their delusions worse. I don't want to do that so I refrain. for the most part.

In light of the autopsy report, for you to post such a video puts you among those who have little respect for Mrs Schiavo...in a word sick.

[T'wit]

The guardian ad litem's responsibility is to represent the ward -- Terri. He is supposed to be her lawyer versus any adversary and the court itself, to see that her rights are upheld. Jay Wolfson's report, however, sided with Greer, Felos and Schiavo on virtually everything. He sided against Terri, in contempt of his legal and ethical duty. Now here he is, only months later, revealing his bias by appearing with Dr. Death and Michael Schiavo in a bioethics meeting. This is horribly embarrassing to the folks who cited Wolfson's report as objective. It ought to embarrass Wolfson himself, but obviously does not.

[L.N. Smithee]

WHY ON EARTH WOULD I CARE what someone, who I don't have much respect for in the first place, says about me. They don't know me.

Apparently, Petronski doesn't care. And he proved that by calling your bluff when you threatened him with issuing a personal insult. Whether he cares or not what you think of him has little to do with your bad behavior.

Meanwhile, you are artfully dodging the issue of Schiavo's medical malpractice suit. It appears to me that you know that if he is suing Terri's caregivers more than two years hence, it lends greater credence to the image of him as a money-grubber. He said he would use the money from the first suit (based on the failure to diagnose bulimia, which we know now there are serious questions about) to care for Terri, and ended up spending most of it trying to put her to death. What's he going to claim more money's for now? He's already buried Terri, so it can't be for that!

Maybe the advance for his book isn't what he thinks it should be.