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Affidavit of Carla Iyer, nurse who cared for Terri Schiavo from April 1995 to July 1996
Terri's Fight (website established on Terri's behalf by her parents and that side of the family) ^ | August 29, 2003 | Carla Iyer

Posted on 10/23/2003 5:58:54 PM PDT by First_Salute

AFFIDAVIT
_________

STATE OF FLORIDA )
COUNTY OF PINELLAS )

BEFORE ME the undersigned authority personally appeared CARLA
SAUER IYER, R.N., who being first duly sworn, deposes and says:

1. My name is Carla Sauer Iyer. I am over the age of eighteen and make
this statement of my own personal knowledge.

2. I am a registered nurse in the State of Florida, having been licensed
continuously in Florida from 1997 to the present. Prior to that I was a
Licensed Practical Nurse for about four years.

3. I was employed at Palm Garden of Largo Convalescent Center in
Largo, Florida from April 1995 to July 1996, while Terri Schiavo
was a patient there.

4. It was clear to me at Palm Gardens that all decisions regarding Terri
Schiavo were made by Michael Schiavo, with no allowance made for
any discussion, debate or normal professional judgment. My initial
training there consisted solely of the instruction "Do what Michael
Schiavo tells you or you will be terminated." This struck me as
extremely odd.

-1-

5. I was very disturbed by the decision making protocol, as no allowance
whatsoever was made for professional responsibility. The atmosphere
throughout the facility was dominated by Mr. Schiavo's intimidation.
Everyone there, with the exception of several people who seemed to be
close to Michael, was intimidated by him. Michael Schiavo always
had an overbearing attitude, yelling numerous times such things as
"This is my order and you're going to follow it." He is very large and
uses menacing body language, such as standing too close to you,
getting right in your face and practically shouting.

6. To the best of my recollection, rehabilitation had been ordered for
Terri, but I never saw any being done or had any reason at all to
believe that there was ever any rehab of Terri done at Palm Gardens
while I was there. I became concerned because Michael wanted
nothing done for Terri at all, no antibiotics, no tests, no range of
motion therapy, no stimulation, no nothing. Michael said again and
again that Terri should NOT get any rehab, that there should be no
range of motion whatsoever, or anything else. I and a CNA named
Roxy would give Terri range of motion anyway. One time I put a
wash cloth in Terri's hand to keep her fingers from curling together,

-2-

and Michael saw it and made me take it out, saying that was therapy.

7. Terri's medical condition was systematically distorted and
misrepresented by Michael. When I worked with her, she was alert
and oriented. Terri spoke on a regular basis while in my presence,
saying such things as "mommy," and "help me." "Help me" was, in
fact, one of her most frequent utterances. I heard her say it hundreds
of times. Terri would try to say the word "pain" when she was in
discomfort, but it came out more like "pay." She didn't say the "n"
sound very well. During her menses she would indicate her discomfort
by saying "pay" and moving her arms toward her lower abdominal
area. Other ways that she would indicate that she was in pain included
pursing her lips, grimacing, thrashing in bed, curling her toes or
moving her legs around. She would let you know when she had a
bowel movement by flipping up the covers and pulling on her diaper
and scooted in bed on her bottom.

8. When I came into her room and said "Hi, Terri", she would always
recognize my voice and her name, and would turn her head all the way
toward me, saying "Haaaiiiii" sort of, as she did. I recognized this as a
"hi", which is very close to what it sounded like, the whole sound

-3-

being only a second or two long. When I told her humrous stories
about my life or something I read in the paper, Terri would chuckle,
sometimes more a giggle or laugh. She would move her whole body,
upper and lower. Her legs would sometimes be off the bed, and need
to be repositioned. I made numerous entries into the nursing notes in
her chart, stating verbatim what she said and her various behaviors, but
by my next on-duty shift, the notes would be deleted from her chart.
Every time I made a positive entry about any responsiveness of Terri's,
someone would remove it after my shift ended. Michael always
demanded to see her chart as soon as he arrived, and would take it in
her room with him. I documented Terri's rehab potential well,
writing whole pages about Terri's responsiveness, but they would
always be deleted by the next time I saw her chart. The reason I wrote
so much was that everybody else seemed to be afraid to make positive
entries for fear of their jobs, but I felt very strongly that a nurses job
was to accurately record everything we see and hear that bears on a
patients condition and their family. I upheld the Nurses Practice Act,
and if it cost me my job, I was willing to accept that.

9. Throughout my time at Palm Gardens, Michael Schiavo was focused

-4-

on Terri's death. Michael would say "When is she going to die?,"
"Has she died yet?" and "When is that bitch gonna die?" These
statements were common knowledge at Palm Gardens, as he would
make them casually in passing, without regard even for who he was
talking to, as long as it was a staff member. Other statements which I
recall him making include "Can't anything be done to accelerate her
death - won't she ever die?" When she wouldn't die, Michael would
be furious. Michael was also adamant that the family should not be
given information. He made numerous statements such as "Make sure
the parents aren't contacted." I recorded Michael's statements word
for word in Terri's chart, but these entries were also deleted after the
end of my shift. Standing orders were that the family wasn't to be
contacted, in fact, there was a large sign in the front of her chart that
said under no circumstances was her family to be called, call Michael
immediately, but I would call them, anyway, because I thought they
should know about their daughter.

10. Any time Terri would be sick, like with a UTI or fluid buildup in her
lungs, colds, or pneumonia, Michael would be visibly excited, thrilled
even, hoping that she would die. He would say something like,

-5-

"Hallelujah! You've made my day!" He would call me, as I was the
nurse supervisor on the floor, and ask for every little detail about her
temperature, blood pressure, etc., and would call back frequently
asking if she was dead yet. He would blurt out "I'm going to be rich!"
and would talk about all the things he would buy when Terri died,
which included a new car, a new boat, and going to Europe, among
other things.

11. When Michael visited Terri, he always came alone and always had the
door closed and locked while he was with Terri. He would typically
be there about twenty minutes or so. When he left Terri would be
trembling, crying hysterically, and would be very pale and have cold
sweats. It looked to me like Terri was having a hypoglycemic reaction,
so I'd check her blood sugar. The glucometer reading would be so low
it was below the range where it would register an actual number
reading. I would put dextrose in Terri's mouth to counteract it. This
happened about five times on my shift, as I recall. Normally Terri's
blood sugar levels were very stable due to the uniformity of her diet
through tube feeding. It is medically possible that Michael injected
Terri with Regular insulin, which is very fast acting, but I don't have

-6-

any way of knowing for sure.

12. The longer I was employed at Palm Gardens the more concerned I
became about patient care, both relating to Terri Schiavo, for the
reasons I've said, and other patients, too. There was an LPN named
Carolyn Adams, known as "Andy" Adams who was a particular
concern. An unusual number of patients seemed to die on her shift,
but she was completely unconcerned, making statements such as
"They are old - let them die." I couldn't believe her attitude or the fact
that it didn't seem to attract any attention. She made many comments
about Terri being a waste of money, that she should die. She said it
was costing Michael a lot of money to keep her alive, and that he
complained about it constantly (I heard him complain about it all the
time, too.) Both Michael and Adams said that she would be worth
more to him if she were dead. I ultimately called the police relative to
this situation, and was terminated the next day. Other reasons were
cited, but I was convinced it was because of my "rocking the boat."

13. Ms. Adams was one of the people who did not seem to be intimidated
by Michael. In fact, they seemed to be very close, and Adams would
do whatever Michael told her. Michael sometimes called Adams at

-7-

night and spoke at length. I was not able to hear the content of these
phone calls, but I knew it was him talking to her because she would
tell me afterward and relay orders from him.

14. I have contacted the Schindler family because I just couldn't stand by
and let Terri die without the truth being known.

FURTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NAUGHT.

<signed>
CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N.

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 29 day of August,
2003, by CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N., who produced her Florida's driver's license
as identification, and who did take an oath.

<signed Patricia J. Anderson>
Notary Public

My commission expires
<Notary seal of Patricia J. Anderson>

 


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: abortion; livingwill; michaelschiavo; nursinghome; righttodie; righttolife; schindler; terrischiavo
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To: Bronco_Buster_FweetHyagh
so until I see something legitimate, I don't believe it.

That's fine. Doubting Thomases are welcome, but when there's proof will you believe then?

201 posted on 10/24/2003 12:52:05 AM PDT by Ohioan from Florida
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To: jwalsh07
Good find jwalsh07! I belive this woman because there is no evidence to suggest otherwise. On the other hand, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that Mr. Schaivo is a selfish and greedy man.

If he wanted to move on with his life, and by the way, he was doing that anyway, why didn't he just divorce Terri and grant guardianship to her parents and move on?
Why? MONEY? GREED? FEAR? CONTROL?
all of the above?

202 posted on 10/24/2003 1:08:59 AM PDT by slimer ("The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.")
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To: Catspaw
It looks like you're too emotionally involved to make a judgment.

It is precisely because people got emotionally involved in this case that Terri is still living today.

Passion is the great motivator.

203 posted on 10/24/2003 1:17:48 AM PDT by slimer ("The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.")
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To: yesnettv
With a GAL expected to be named shortly, there will be hearings and possibly another trial. Ms. Iyer, or Ms. Sauer, as she calls herself now, may well have a chance to testify.

However, the vast majority of witnesses go over their testimony with the attorney representing one side, in Iyer/Sauer's case, with the Schindler attorneys. Some of those lawyers will review the affidavit and toss out practice questions so that person knows what to anticipate on the stand. What few witnesses know is what the other side's attorney is going to ask and they don't anticipate those questions. In Iyer/Sauer's case, after Felos or another Schiavo attorney greets her with pleasantries and circles around her like a Great White, there's one specific area of her affidavit which will allow the Schiavo attorney questioning to tear her to shreds on the stand. I'll leave it to you to figure out what it is.

204 posted on 10/24/2003 5:29:04 AM PDT by Catspaw
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To: Catspaw
"I'd want testimony in court, along with other witnesses, documentation and evidence before I could give any credibility to witness based on an affidavit."

That's a great idea, catspaw. Let's have everybody, including Schiavo in court testifying under oath. Meanwhile, keep feeding and hydrating Terri.
205 posted on 10/24/2003 6:00:09 AM PDT by Bluebird Singing
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To: Catspaw
Certainly if you never state what you would assert is wrong with Ms. Sauer's affidavit, nobody can dispute you.
206 posted on 10/24/2003 6:09:03 AM PDT by drlevy88
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To: Catspaw
Certainly if you never state what you would assert is wrong with Ms. Sauer's affidavit, nobody can dispute you.
207 posted on 10/24/2003 6:12:38 AM PDT by drlevy88
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To: Catspaw
Certainly if you never state what you would assert is wrong with Ms. Sauer's affidavit, nobody can dispute you.
208 posted on 10/24/2003 6:12:39 AM PDT by drlevy88
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To: Catspaw
Certainly if you never state what you would assert is wrong with Ms. Sauer's affidavit, nobody can dispute you.
209 posted on 10/24/2003 6:12:39 AM PDT by drlevy88
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To: Catspaw
Certainly if you never state what you would assert is wrong with Ms. Sauer's affidavit, nobody can dispute you.
210 posted on 10/24/2003 6:12:40 AM PDT by drlevy88
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To: Catspaw
Certainly if you never state what you would assert is wrong with Ms. Sauer's affidavit, nobody can dispute you.
211 posted on 10/24/2003 6:12:41 AM PDT by drlevy88
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To: First_Salute
I can't say I know the true condition of Terri, or her desires or if she is even conscious of any desires. At the risk of being flamed by some of the more emotional beings out here, I'd like to post an interesting thought found in Revelations.

Revelations 9: 6

"And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them."

Are these those days? Food for thought.

212 posted on 10/24/2003 6:57:45 AM PDT by William Terrell (Individuals can exist without government but government can't exist without individuals.)
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To: William Terrell
This is a case of men seeking death FOR OTHERS. That is a feature of all history. Nothing special about "these times".

Btw, it's Revelation, singular. Fodder for flamewars.

213 posted on 10/24/2003 7:27:28 AM PDT by thulldud (It's bad luck to be superstitious.)
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To: William Terrell
This is a case of men seeking death FOR OTHERS. That is a feature of all history. Nothing special about "these times".

Btw, it's Revelation, singular. Fodder for flamewars.

214 posted on 10/24/2003 7:27:34 AM PDT by thulldud (It's bad luck to be superstitious.)
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To: drlevy88
Never said there was anything wrong with Sauer's affidavit. I just pointed out that there's a specific area in which Schiavo's attorneys will tear her to shreds if she ever testifies or is deposed.

I would post it, but because of the possibility that Schiavo's attorney is monitoring FR, I don't want to give him a pointer.

215 posted on 10/24/2003 8:22:03 AM PDT by Catspaw
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To: Bluebird Singing
That's a great idea, catspaw. Let's have everybody, including Schiavo in court testifying under oath. Meanwhile, keep feeding and hydrating Terri.

I'm sure there'll be further court hearings--there's an agency investigating the allegations of abuse, and it could come to court action--that's one possibility.

Funny thing, though. Way before Jeb and the Florida legislature came up with Terri's Bill, then Terri's law, I had proposed that there be legislation, rather than an executive order right here on FR. When FR is back to normal, I'll see if I can dig out the post(s) I made on the subject.

216 posted on 10/24/2003 8:25:55 AM PDT by Catspaw
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To: Bronco_Buster_FweetHyagh
No way. This is a total farce.
_____

You haven't worked in LTC have you?

I have seen pages missing, notes long lost suddenly "reappearing", orders never entered in charts, signatures forged....you name it.

And I have been in 1000's of charts in my job....Many are total train wrecks. Some facilities so poorly run you are amazed that they are still open.

Her story sounds like stuff I have seen in other facilities.

Just depends on where you are and who you know.
217 posted on 10/24/2003 8:31:38 AM PDT by najida (He who is without baggage can cast the first Samsonite.)
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To: Catspaw; yesnettv
1) Mr. Schiavo had the power to force the staff to break the law, because they feared for their jobs. He could have them fired and put a mark on their records that would have hindered their employment elsewhere as well.

And yet he says self damning remarks that many of the staff witnessed and could have used against him, thus doing the right thing and the legal thing. And the practical thing as well, since they risked not working again if they broke the law in conspiracy with Schiavo.

2) Mr.Schiavo had the power to remove staff, yet tolerated Sauer writing notes on the charts that threatened his plan to hasten Terri's death.

Tolerated his biggest enemy, her, for over a year. Hard to believe.

218 posted on 10/24/2003 8:38:40 AM PDT by secretagent
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To: secretagent
Read post 217
219 posted on 10/24/2003 8:43:24 AM PDT by PeyersPatches
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To: editor-surveyor
Nationa FReep time! Let's do it!
220 posted on 10/24/2003 8:46:40 AM PDT by atruelady
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