Scott (Michael's brother) and Joan (Michael and Terri's sister-in-law) each testified to separate conversations with Terri. Here is the summary of all of the trial court testimony on the statements made by Terri regarding her desire not to be maintained artificially:
"The court does find that Terri Schiavo did make statements which are creditable and reliable with regard to her intention given the situation at hand. ... Statements which Terri Schiavo made which do support the relief sought by her surrogate (Petitioner/Guardian) include statements to him prompted by her grandmother being in intensive care that if she was ever a burden she would not want to live like that. Additionally statements made to Michael Schiavo which were prompted by something on television regarding people on life support that she would not want to life (sic) like that also reflect her intention in this particular situation. Also the statements she made in the presence of Scott Schiavo at the funeral luncheon for his grandmother that "if I ever go like that just let me go. Don't leave me there. I don't want to be kept alive on a machine." and to Joan Schiavo following a television movie in which a man following an accident was in a coma to the effect that she wanted it stated in her will that she would want the tubes and everything taken out if that ever happened to her are likewise reflective of this intent. The court specifically finds that these statements are Terri Schiavo's oral declarations concerning her intention as to what she would want done under the present circumstances and the testimony regarding such oral declarations is reliable, is creditable and rises to the level of clear and convincing evidence to this court. (slip op. at 9)
Also the statements she made in the presence of Scott Schiavo at the funeral luncheon for his grandmother that "if I ever go like that just let me go. Don't leave me there. I don't want to be kept alive on a machine."
If Terri said this, she meant as an old person, since the person she was comparing herself with was a grandmother. At the time, I doubt Terri could even imagine being, gasp, 30! I know that how I would wish to be treated would matter a lot on how old I was at the time. 88, let me go. 40, hell no!
Very interesting. You see, medical decisions are tough. I am confident that Terri's sitiuation is different from the situation she witnessed with her grandmother. Her grandmother was on a machine. Terri is not. So, she is not in a situation like her grandmother. While her comment, if accurate, is interesting, it shouldn't be taken as determinative of her wishes regarding sustenance and hydration.
All the doctors that FELOS hired and GREER appointed were found CREDIBLE.
WHY? Because Judge Greer had already made up his mind Terri should DIE before he ever heard any of the evidence on the case. And I can prove it.
In reading this portion of the transcript I have but one question? Was a will executed by Terri near the time the statements were made? If she had presence of mind (according to the witness) to indicate that she wanted to write a "living will" would she not have executed same? If there was a passage of time from the statement to the incapacitation of Terri could this mean that she changed her mind? I find that taking these statements, under the circumstances, as fact of her intent, just pure speculation. These statements were not made in a declaratory sense, but in an empathetic response to the circumstances.
Does the record also show any counter testimony, for instance from Terri's best friend, or the Michael's ex-girlfriend who stated in an affidavit that Michael told her that he and Terri had never discussed such issues? Just wondering if Judge Greer let all of the into the judicial record.
I thought they all watched the Quinlan movie together. Probably just read it on here. Now I really don't believe that Terri went around talking only to Michael's family one at a time that she would not want to live "like that" and told her friends something different. I really thought she made some off-hand remark while watching a movie with Michael his brother and his wife which was what they testified to and then was years later accepted as evidence of her wishes. If you are correct, I find it much less believable that she ever even remarked on it.