Michael Schiavo's side of the story [sicko' barf-ola ALERT]

MSNBC ^ | 3/27/06 | Matt Lauer

[XR7]

CLEARWATER, FLA. - Michael Schiavo...has decided to tell his side of the story...

Schiavo invited us to his home in Clearwater, Florida to talk...It’s all in his new book “Terri the Truth.”

Matt Lauer: I guess you could’ve written a book to honor Terri. After reading it, it’s not really the book you wrote. This is a book that in some ways settles some scores, doesn’t it?

Michael Schiavo: Oh yes, it does.

Lauer: You did think about writing that honoring Terri book?

Michael Schiavo: Oh yes, many times. This book does honor Terri in a way. It sets her free. It tells the truth...

Lauer: You were her first date.

Schiavo: Uh-huh.

Lauer: You were her first kiss.

Schiavo: Uh-huh.....

But the medical examiner was skeptical...and could not conclusively determine just what caused her collapse 16 years ago.

Lauer (at Terri Schiavo’s grave site): How often do you come to her grave?

Schiavo: I try to get out here at least two or three times a month. I drive by a lot though.

On this day, approaching the one year anniversary of Terri's death, someone had left a crucifix by her grave, a grave marked with three dates: her birth date, the date of her collapse, and her death, with a final note from Michael: "I kept my promise."

Lauer: Why was it so important to put that in there?

Schiavo: It was from me to her — it had nothing to do with anybody else. It was very important for me.

Lauer: Do you ever come here Michael and wonder how she feels about this promise, so many years afterwards? Do you think it was it as important to her as it was to you?

Schiavo: Definitely, definitely. She's up there praising me right now… and saying thank you.

[Edward Watson]

But neither could ever recover or regain consciousness. That is what makes it similar.

[jackibutterfly]

"Please post it here. Maybe it will help stop all this bickering."

Hi, XR7 -

Sorry I'm so late in answering - I ended up going to bed - didn't realize how tired I was. Plus, I discovered I didn't have that link at home - had to wait til I got to work this a.m. to post it. Here it is:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1381701/posts?page=181

I don't know how to make a link - so ya'll have to cut and paste. PLEASE, EVERYONE, WATCH THIS VIDEO. YOU'LL BE AMAZED!!!! You'll see what an atrocity was done to Terri by OUR court - by the way, there was ONLY 1 court that viewed the evidence - Judge Greer. He was the ONLY one to make any decisions on Terri's welfare and death sentence. All the other "judges" merely went along with him. THAT was the atrocity - they went on his word only!

[jackibutterfly]

"Terri Schiavo had swallowing tests done showing she could not swallow, so the food had to be conveyed artifically. "

Source? So, how do you account for Terri not drooling, if she couldn't swallow? I'd read (tho it would take some digging) that it was easier to put a tube in her than to feed her.

[XR7]

His wife had already made her desires known.

To whom?
That was the problem - she never did.
Such desires, if they existed, would have to be expressed in a properly witnessed and notarized document (Living Will or Medical Power of Attorney).
Teri Schiavo never signed such a document.
Why do you suppose the law requires such a meticulously drafted document in the first place?

[hodaka]

Edward you state the facts so much better than I can. What really upset me was when the Operation Rescue founder Randal Terry came into the picture. Here was a guy sending children with symbolic glasses of water for Teri only to be sent back or arrested by the police. First If she got one these glasses of water she would have drowned since she was not capable to swallow. The real low point came when Randal was making outrageous claims that she was trying to say: "I want to live" and when he played the so called recording of this statement it was just Terri moaning.

[freedumb2003]

That was the problem - she never did. Such desires, if they existed, would have to be expressed in a properly witnessed and notarized document (Living Will or Medical Power of Attorney). Teri Schiavo never signed such a document. Why do you suppose the law requires such a meticulously drafted document in the first place?

There is no such law. But such a document is a good idea. You can die testate, that merely establishes certain guiding principles and laws. It doesn't mean anything else.

In this case, the closest relative (the husband) gets to decide. If Terri told him her wishes, the court is LEGALLY and MORALLY obliged to follow up on those instructions, Greer-bashing anarchists notwithstanding.

I would prefer my wife to handle my affairs if I became brain dead (although I have Living Will on file, partially as a result of this case).

And yes, Terri was brain dead.

[BykrBayb]

by the way, there was ONLY 1 court that viewed the evidence - Judge Greer.

Not even that. Judge Greer is (and was at the time) legally blind. He couldn't see the video. The audio was turned off, so he couldn't hear it either. He did not disclose his blindness to the Schindlers or their attorneys. His friends on Michael's side knew it though.

[Dante3]

You are exactly right. Terri never put it in writing. And Michael "miraculously" recalled it only many years later after he received the money from a law suit for her rehabilitation.

[jackibutterfly]

"...when he played the so called recording of this statement it was just Terri moaning."

I'd be moaning, too, if someone just told me they were going to starve me to death! Did any of you check out my video I posted in Post #142. Please do, and get back to me. Thanks.

[jackibutterfly]

Oh, for crying out loud, I forgot to mention the Post - it's Post #174. You can click on that link, and watch the video. Thanks.

[jackibutterfly]

"And yes, Terri was brain dead."

No, she wasn't. Please watch the video. You can't go in and out of being brain dead, so the claim that they took hours and hours of video just to get 8 minutes of her being alert is hogwash. Just watch the video, and you'll see:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1381701/posts?page=181

Post #174.

[freedumb2003]

Just like the frog in the WB cartoons.

Wishful thinking by those with an agenda.

[jackibutterfly]

Did YOU watch the video???

[BykrBayb]

The law does allow for verbal statements, but it imposes the the burden of "clear and convincing evidence," and spells out certain other requirements regarding the number of witnesses and their relationship to the patient.

There was clear and convincing evidence that Terri never expressed a desire to be euthanized. Aside from all the evidence provided by family and friends (which was substantial in and of itself), there was Michael Schitvo's own sworn testimony that he wanted to become a nurse so that he could fulfill his vow to Terri that he would take care of her for the rest of his life. When weighed against his later allegation that she casually commented that she "wouldn't want to live like that," it's pretty obvious he did not fulfill the legal requirement of clear and convincing evidence that she would want to be starved and dehydrated to death.

[hodaka]

Jacki, not to be cruel but you are not responding to the actual statement that I made about Randal Terry and his claims that she was talking. Randal was acting like she was clearly saying something when all it was was just a moan. There is a mentally handicapped kid in my neighborhood that repeats a certain number over and over again. I could easily go up with a recorder and ask this kid what is some number plus some number and wait for the kid to give that number he always repeats. This does not mean that this child was able to comprehend this math problem.

[jackibutterfly]

PLEASE watch the video, then tell me what you think. Thanks

[BykrBayb]

Video Conversation with Terri

[retMD]

"Terri Schiavo had swallowing tests done showing she could not swallow, so the food had to be conveyed artifically."

Source? So, how do you account for Terri not drooling, if she couldn't swallow? I'd read (tho it would take some digging) that it was easier to put a tube in her than to feed her.

Source is the GAL report:

"Three, independent sets of swallowing tests were performed early in Theresa’s medical treatment: 1991, 1992 and 1993. Each of these determined that Theresa was not able to swallow without risk of aspiration (and consequent infection)... The recognized gold standard test is the modified barium swallowing test, generally done in a hospital or at a facility that has radiology equipment. Theresa’s three previous tests were barium swallowing tests... The ability to orally ingest food and water – to swallow substances other than saliva, is predicated on a level of cognitive capacity. Without cognitive capacity, the intentional act of oral nutrition and hydration is likely to lead to aspiration. Eating and drinking are not unconscious processes."

[jackibutterfly]

"...there was Michael Schitvo's own sworn testimony...."

Hey! BykrBayb - 0hhhhh, that's funny! Welcome back to the Terri posts! Why, oh why, won't anyone watch that video. BykrBayb - have YOU seen it?

[BykrBayb]

I haven't seen the video you're referring to. Or is it just audio? As a matter of fact, this is the first I've heard about it. Could you provide a link?