Professor Appointed to Probe Schiavo Case

Guardian Unlimited ^ | Nov 1, 2003 | Vickie Chachere

[Future Useless Eater]

Professor Appointed to Probe Schiavo Case

Saturday November 1, 2003 1:01 AM

By VICKIE CHACHERE
Associated Press Writer

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A judge appointed a University of South Florida professor on Friday to independently investigate the case of a severely brain-damaged woman at the center of a right-to-die battle.

Jay Wolfson, an expert on health care financing, will report to Gov. Jeb Bush and recommend whether the stay the governor enacted to keep Terri Schiavo alive should be allowed to remain.

Schiavo suffered severe brain damage when her heart stopped due to a chemical imbalance and has been in a persistent vegetative state for more than a decade. Doctors have said there is no hope for her recovery.

Her husband, Michael Schiavo, has fought to have her feeding tube removed, saying his wife did not want to be kept alive artificially.

Terri Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, dispute that claim and have fought to keep their daughter alive, saying they believe she could be rehabilitated.

Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed for six days in October before the Florida Legislature and Gov. Jeb Bush enacted a special law to have it reinserted. The law also required a guardian to be appointed.

George Felos, the attorney for Michael Schiavo, and the American Civil Liberties Union filed briefs this week challenging the constitutionality of the governor's action. The state is expected to respond on Monday.

The judge said that if the law is found to be unconstitutional, Wolfson is to cease his work.

The Schindlers had objected to Wolfson's appointment, claiming comments he made to a television station indicated he was biased against the newly enacted law. The judge said he found no evidence of bias.

Wolfson did not return calls seeking comment.

The judge ordered Wolfson to report to the governor in 30 days, but said the deadline could be extended if needed.

[sweetliberty]

"She had Bulimia Nervosa Disease so bad a "blind hog" should have picked it up"

If this is true and Michael knew about it and since they were seeing the doctors together (Michael claims) to investigate the cause of Terri's infertility, then why would Michael have not himself mentioned this to Terri's doctor? It seems like it just MIGHT be important. < /sarcasm >

"One of our PAC physicians has already "heard" the famed pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, “blew a casket” when he learned that the Schindler’s did not properly disclosed to Greta Van Susteren and him Terri’s horrible Bulimia Nervosa disease progression"

I may be recalling incorrectly, but it seems to me that that particular issue WAS mentioned and Dr. Baden dismissed it as being able to account for that degree of trauma. I didn't see the program but at some point the transcript was posted.

"Everybody know the Schindler’s are using him for a “mouth piece and a deception ringer” and that is why nobody will help the Schindlers!"

It is my understanding that the questions raised against Hammersfahr were dismissed (something to do with his advertising practices as I recall) and were only raised in the first place because of George Felos looking for ways to discredit him.

In any event, there is a right and wrong here and a woman's life is at stake. It is quite obvious to anyone with eyes to see and ANY knowledge of the facts in this case, that Michael Schiavo has clear conflicts of interest which should completely bar him from making ANY decisions whatsoever on behalf of Terri. It is not the integrity of the Schindlers that is at issue.

[Annie03]

PAC doctor = Physicians Against Care? Credit to my dh how is up.-to-date on this whole side drama.

I researched Dr H myself, and I think this is a red herring to get us off track or discontinue our support for Terri's right to live. JMO

[windchime]

"He doubtless thinks the rest of us are as stupid as the average Florida democRAT. Can there be any doubt that he falls into that category?"

No doubt!

IMO, the people who win the prize for stupid are Felos/Schiavo (and their minions). The presentations I've seen Felos make are pathetic and anyone dumb enough to use the likes of M. Schiavo as the front man for a cause is seriously lacking in the ability to discern quality and substance. Felos' standing in the community of the 'Culture of Death' will be diminished because of his performance here, no matter what the result is.

[attagirl]

I researched Dr H myself, and I think this is a red herring to get us off track or discontinue our support for Terri's right to live.

Yes. So is her bulemia/anorexia/eating disorder.

[lonevoice]

He doubtless thinks the rest of us are as stupid as the average Florida democRAT.

Yeppers. And now that he has been exposed he seems to have found a more articulate replacement. It looks like we can get the total of the Felos'/Shiavo PR spin just by reading what they post on this thread, ie:
Terri had bulimia
Terri's broken bones were caused by bulimia
Dr. Hammesfahr isn't credible
Terri's parents are liars
Oh, and by the way, I support Terri's right to live

No matter how well (or how poorly) these new FReepers spell their message, it's the same message. By their fruits we will know them.

[attagirl]

As far as I am concerned Terri is getting substandard health care. They should be allowing things to be put in her hands so they are not clinched and if MS will not even allow this, then he is ordering the health care personnel to neglect her also. There should be laws to prevent this!

I couldn't agree more. The medical professionals are made to be part of this inhuman treatment. This is the 21st century.

Florida is a persistive vegetative state!

[NautiNurse]

A nurse! Nice formatting for a first post--especially with an AOL background.

Your ER RN/PT combo intrigues me. I've been an RN for years, and never knew another nurse with dual credentials like that--until I read that Michael Schiavo is an ER nurse-RT combo. Isn't that amazing? What a coincidence!

[libravoter]

Spoilsport ; - >

[lonevoice]

I know I'm amazed! ;->

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Well it seems that a couple of you newbies and one old timer have the same exact message. That is so interesting. So will you then answer the same question your other two friends did not, would not, or could not answer.

Here is goes LisaRNPT.... are you ready.... Where is your proof that Terri had an eating disorder?

So do you three know each other , working for the same guy , or are you just trying to set us up for a cyber sting?

[Normally a Lurker]

Spoilsport ; - >

Over the course of many years posting at this site, I've been called many names . . . but the one you chose is likely the most well deserved . . . in it's context.

[Annie03]

"So do you three know each other , working for the same guy , or are you just trying to set us up for a cyber sting?"

Ever stop to think it's multiple screen names, one person? The similarities are amazing.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

It think it is bold and amazing that they think we are going to be so confused, and we are going to stop just because some newbies, driven by an old timer present their "evidence" . Which of course is all B.S. They obviously do not understand the freeper spirit. This last one has made their agenda clear by asking anyone who does not agree with "her" and her diagnois of eating disorder to "leave the save Terri group".

Message to you boys: We aren't going to stop or go away or leave. You may be used to pushing people around, perhaps one of you is used to "getting away with murder", and bullying people, but here you have just met your match.

Freepers are not wilting wall flowers.

[sweetliberty]

"But there were "pro-death" defenders like "Hildy" (Is that a nickname of "Hillary"?) and others here for several weeks."

I think Hildy must be an escapee from the DU who is only still here due to the oversight of the moderators. Or maybe, like Murry Mom, we're keeping her for a pet.

[Theodore R.]

I cannot understand how so many American seem to get satisfaction from seeing poor Terri dehydrated and starved. Are the American people just becoming an offshoot of the ancient Romans, who demanded "bread and circuses" from the "government" and relished at the death of gladiators?

[sweetliberty]

I have a tentative hypothesis. I think the consciences of those who have turned against God have become so deadened that they seek increasingly more gruesome and perverse ways of convincing themselves THEY are alive.

An oversimplification perhaps, but as good an explanation as any.

[Annie03]

"Message to you boys: We aren't going to stop or go away or leave. You may be used to pushing people around, perhaps one of you is used to "getting away with murder", and bullying people, but here you have just met your match.
Freepers are not wilting wall flowers.""

Bravo, tee hee and they better believe it.

[Annie03]

You both make good observations. One only has to look at the content of "reality TV" and it's wild popularity to know something has gone wrong in society(IMNSHO)

[Theodore R.]

Yet the anti-Terri lobby otherwise eschews the words "compassion," "caring," "humility," etc. People are as blind as George W. Greer, I guess.

[Annie03]

Many people are as blind as Judge Greer. All the editorials on my news alerts today were rah rah for starving Terri to death. Only the Pilly Enquirer presented anything resembling balance in an article today. Thank God for those willing to swim against the tide.