Are Some Now Understanding What Happened to Terri Schiavo Was Wrong?

Life News ^ | 10/16/07 | Wesley J. Smith

[wagglebee]

Wesley J. Smith is a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute and an attorney for the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. His latest book is Consumer's Guide to a Brave New World.

I think Bobby Schindler is right.

There have been a lot of stories of late about how supposedly vegetative patients could understand, or of "miraculous" awakenings by people who doctors were sure would never react consciously again.

Bobby, Terri Schiavo's brother, has noticed that whatever the condition of the patient whose story is being told, the reports all have a common sub theme--the awakening, comprehension, etc. has nothing to do with Terri, meaning it was right to dehydrate her to death.

It is as these reports, to quote Shakespeare, "doth protest too much," as if there is a subliminal realization that a terrible injustice was done to her.

The latest almost unbelievable example is in an otherwise interesting and important (and long) piece in the New Yorker, byline Jerome Groopman. After describing how supposedly unconscious people have been misdiagnosed, the author quotes an unnamed neuroscientist about Terri.

From the story:

A neuroscientist showed me a video on the Internet of Terri Schiavo, the Florida woman who spent fifteen years in what most doctors agree was a vegetative state--tests revealed almost no activity in her cortex--and whose death, in 2005, provoked fierce debate over the rights of severely brain-damaged patients. (Schiavo died after the Supreme Court rejected her parents' appeal of a judge's decision approving her husband's request that her feeding tube be removed. An autopsy showed extensive brain damage.) In the video, a man's voice can be heard praising Schiavo for opening her eyes in response to his instructions, and the neuroscientist told me that he was impressed until he muted the sound. "With the sound off, it is clear that her movements are random," the neuroscientist said. "But, with the voice-over, it is easy to make a misdiagnosis. (My emphasis.)

The above stills are from the video in question. It deeply touched my heart and it is seared forever in my memory. In that video, Terri is asked by the examiner to open her eyes. At first, nothing. Then, within ten or so seconds, her eyes flicker, she opens them, and then opens them so wide her forehead wrinkles. It is clearly an intentional response to the question.

But if you turn the sound off, there is no question to hear--and voila, her opening her eyes with clear intention can now be dismissed as merely "random movement."

But a random movement under those circumstances would be to move her head from side to side or lick or lips. But when she opened her eyes, and so intently, precisely as requested, you have to work hard to make it "random." So, to make sure we don't see the terrible wrong that was done to her, we just turn off the sound.

As I said, unbelievable. But do read the larger piece. It is well worth the time.

[Shelayne]

The “Big Eyes” video, for me, was absolutely the most compelling and obvious video (the first time I saw that I sat in front of my computer and bawled). I remember arguing with someone right here on FR about that very video, and they were adamant that they were involuntary reactions. I was yelling as I was typing because I could NOT believe that ANYone would view that video and still believe she was brain dead.

It was so frustrating because a few posters kept trying to tell me that her parents “saw what they wanted to” in those videos and not how she “really” was. I knew that they never even bothered to watch the videos. They couldn’t have.

I didn’t realize how contentious Terri’s battle was on FR until I stepped in the middle of the fray, and this was after she was starved and dehydrated to death in a manner that would have one behind bars if done to an animal.

To say that I was stunned by this attitude would be an understatement.

[wagglebee]

Many FReepers exposed themselves as the phonies they always were during Terri’s execution.

[bjs1779]

http://ejumpcut.org/archive/jc48.2006/SchiavoWaldman/bigeyesfolder/4-Schiavo%205.ram

[GreenOgre]

I could NOT believe that ANYone would view that video and still believe she was brain dead.

I believe she was brain dead. She never maintained eye contact for more than five seconds over the course of years. She never looked at people as they entered or left her room. She suffered a major brain injury and it killed her higher brain functions. Her heart pumped blood, she could breath on her own, her brain fired off random muscle movements on occassion, and that's about it folks.

Before all you so called "Christians" rush off to burn him at the stake. He was at her side for three years and got a nursing degree to understand what was going on with Terri. Then and only then, he realized there was no hope for her.

He moved on. I suggest you all do the same.

[Sun]

I pray that people will realize it was wrong to dehydrate Terri to death, to save other disabled people from the horrendous suffering that Terri had to go through.

Also, I resent how the left is trying to use Terri for political reasons which is why they keep asking Republican presidential candidates if it was wrong or right for Congress to intervene to save Terri.

Chris Matthews even asked that question during the 1st GOP presidential debate.

A young women is killed before her time, she and her family suffer tremendously, and the left tries to politicize it.

[Jim Noble]

why they keep asking Republican presidential candidates if it was wrong or right for Congress to intervene to save Terri.

And what do you think?

I think the Congress's foolish, reckless, and unConstitutional intervention was the end of Republican governance in this country for a hundred years.

That's what I think.

Congress is not a court of final appeal in state matters. They have no competence in such matters - none.

Of course, Michael Schiavo cleverly used the state courts of Florida and confused public attitudes about these matters to murder his wife. There is no doubt about that.

But the idea that a congressman from a thousand miles away, in another state, is going to watch a video of YOUR loved one and decide to second guess you, and the doctors, never mind the local and state courts, is SO LOATHESOME to normal people that they will NEVER, EVER allow such people to be in power.

What colossal foolishness that STUPID, STUPID Congressional intervention was.

[Fudd Fan]

Amen to that, wagglebee.

[Pinkbell]

"The Darwinists probably already have a thread up mocking it."

LOL I pay little attention to that forum, but I have looked at Other Sites Chat. It's actually pretty pitiful. It's a group of people sitting around talking about the posters on Free Republic. In their own minds they are far above us plebians in intelligence.

Anyway, about Terry, it was horrible. I can understand pulling the plug on life support, but all Terry had was a simple feeding tube. Food and water are necessary components to every human life. Who knows where Terry would be if her "husband" had spent the money he got to take care of her the right way instead of using it to kill her.

[Sun]

Welcome to the Democrat Party - the Party of death.

[Sun]

It is the government’s DUTY to protect innocent lives.

[Fudd Fan]

I certainly agree with you. I joined FR (after lurking for quite a time) during the height of Terri’s fight. I lasted through that, so I have to believe I can last through anything.

[Dante3]

And killing in a horrible manner. The courts would not permit subhumans such as Reginald and Jonathan Carr to be killed in the same way as Terri.

[Jim Noble]

Welcome to the Democrat Party - the Party of death.

I didn't put them in power - you and your idiot power-mad friends who think Congress has powers beyond those granted to resolve state matters.

It is the government’s DUTY to protect innocent lives.

Sorry. No sale. Congress is not a continuously sitting court of appeal. The very idea of it is dangerous beyond belief, MUCH worse than the occasional murderer getting away with it.

If you don't understand that, it's no wonder the people won't trust you with power.

[the invisib1e hand]

Saw Florida off and kick it towards its rightful home. Begin in Pinellas County. It’s cursed forever.

[swmobuffalo]

“I believe she was brain dead. She never maintained eye contact for more than five seconds over the course of years. She never looked at people as they entered or left her room. She suffered a major brain injury and it killed her higher brain functions. Her heart pumped blood, she could breath on her own, her brain fired off random muscle movements on occassion, and that’s about it folks.”

And you know this how? Those random muscle movements certainly came at inconvenient times, like when she responded to her mother’s voice. If she was “brain dead” which indicates the absence of brain function, she’d have been on a respirator to breath, fed with a tube, and be totally unaware of her surroundings. All of which is blown out of the water by the videos. Oh and the witness statements of the nurses which were conveniently IGNORED by her “loving” husband.

[dschapin]

If he simply wanted to move on with his life why could he not have allowed her family to care for her they were willing and able too. How could he (as he states in his own book) eat pizza in her room as she starved to death. How could he and his brother laugh as Rev. Jackson comforted her father and he learned of Terri’s passing. How could he prevent his family from even trying to feed her naturally after the feeding tube was removed. This man is pure evil and if you do not believe - I suggest that you check out http://www.michaelschiavo.org to see the affidavid of one of Terri’s nurses, the statements of Mr. Schievo’s past girlfriends, and the statements that he himself made in his book.

[dschapin]

So, political power is more important than the murder of one disabled women. Should we have just sat back and done nothing while the Judge Greer sadistically had Terri murdered. Surely there is a time when people have to stand up and do something. In fact, I am surprised that some of the people there did not use force to stop what happened.

[pbear8]

Impeachment is WAY too good for Judge Greer. Justice for him will come in the next life.

I completely understand your feelings. However, let us pray that God touches his heart and changes it from stone. Then that he would spend the rest of his days atoning for is sin by telling others that what he did was wrong and why they should never consider it.

[dschapin]

I agree, but justice still demands that he pay in this life for the horrible crime that he purpetrated. He should be tried, convicted, and sentenced to death in a court of law for conspiracy to commit first degree murder.

[Jim Noble]

In fact, I am surprised that some of the people there did not use force to stop what happened.

That's another matter altogether. I wouldn't have been surprised either.

But do you seriously contend that, in pursuit of a noble goal, that the laws, the Constitution, the defined and limited powers of the Legislative branch are NOTHING to you?

That Congress should act where and when it has no such power?

That if we put you and your friends in power, that you accept no limits on what you may do, separation of powers and lack of competence be damned?

No thanks.