Posted on 03/23/2005 7:27:11 AM PST by queenkathy
Tuesday, March 22, 2005 11:52 p.m. EST
Second, Third Nurse Accuse Michael Schiavo
Two additional nurses have filed affidavits in the Terri Schiavo case that corroborate bombshell allegations by nurse Carla Sauer Iyer, who went public on Tuesday with claims that Michael Schiavo had deliberately withheld treatment from his disabled wife.
Heidi Law was a certified nursing assistant at the Palm Garden Convalescent Center in Largo, Fla., where she treated Mrs. Schiavo in 1997.
Story Continues Below
In an affidavit filed with the court in August 2003, Ms. Law maintained:
"I know that Terri did not receive routine physical therapy or any other kind of therapy. I was personally aware of orders for rehabilitation that were not being carried out. Even though they were ordered, Michael would stop them."
Law continued:
"Michael ordered that Terri receive no rehabilitation or range of motion therapy. I and [another CNA] would give Terri range of motion anyway, but we knew we were endangering our jobs by doing so.
"We usually did this behind closed doors," Law said, because "we were so fearful of being caught ... we were always looking out for Michael, because we knew that, not only would Michael take his anger out on us, but he would take it out more on Terri. We spoke of this many times."
"At least three times during any shift where I took care of Terri, I made sure to give Terri a wet washcloth filled with ice chips, to keep her mouth moistened.
"On three or four occasions I personally fed Terri small mouthfuls of Jello, which she was able to swallow and enjoyed immensely. I did not do it more often only because I was so afraid of being caught by Michael."
Like nurse Iyer, Law suspected that Michael was mistreating Terri, noting in her sworn statement:
"Several times when Michael visited Terri during my shift, he went into her room alone and closed the door. This worried me because I didn’t trust Michael.
"When he left, Terri was very agitated, was extremely tense with tightened fists and sometimes had a cold sweat. She was much less responsive than usual and would just stare out the window, her eyes kind of glassy. ...
"We were convinced that he was abusing her, and probably saying cruel, terrible things to her because she would be so upset when he left."
"The Palm Gardens staff, myself included, were just amazed that a 'Do Not Resuscitate' order had been put on Terri’s chart, considering her age and her obvious cognitive awareness of her surroundings."
Carolyn Johnson, a certified nursing assistant who worked at the Sabal Palms nursing home in Largo, said Terri's mistreatment went back to at least 1993.
"During this assignment I took care of Terri Schiavo several times," Johnson said in her own August 2003 affidavit.
"I learned, as part of my training, that there was a family dispute and that the husband, as guardian, wanted no rehabilitation for Terri. This surprised me, as I did not think a guardian could go against a doctor's orders like that, but I was assured that a guardian could and that this guardian had gone against Terri's doctor's orders."
Johnson recalled: "No one was allowed to just go in and see Terri. Michael had a visitors list. We all knew that we would lose our jobs if we did not do exactly what Michael said to do."
Johnson continued:
"I remember seeing Michael Schiavo only once the entire time I worked at Sabal Palms, but we were all aware that Terri was not to be given any kind of rehabilitative help, per his instructions.
"Once, I wanted to put a cloth in Terri's hand to keep her hand from closing in on itself, but I was not permitted to do this," Johnson said, "as Michael Schiavo considered that to be a form of rehabilitation."
The more important question is where did you post support for Terri's views if you are on her side in reality?
That is not the more important question!! You accused me of taking Michael's side and I was demanding that you prove to me that I was. You have not and can not.
I am not playing lawyer for the opposition. I was simply looking to grasp all the information.
I'm not sure where to get the docs for the guardianship stuff if the case is still pending. Don't you have a way of looking it up like what things were filed for the court and when? The only thing I have is the Florida guardianship statutes that have been broken by Michael and allowed by Greer (based on the idea that Michael is still Terri's guardian). We could probably find records of Greer's decision last May when Terri's teeth were extracted and her parents weren't allowed to be with her for 2 months.
"humanizing her"
To the pro-Schiavo folks, and MS, no doubt she is no longer a person, but, rather, an obligation....and a gravy train upon her death.
It's very doubtful that the parents could bring a wrongful death claim against the judge. Generally, judges have immunity from legal action. The immunity isn't absolute, however. In this case, it is very unlikely that the parents could pursue a case against the judge.
As far as wrongful death about the husband, any such case would likely fail because court ordered termination of life support doesn't meet the legal criteria for maintaining wrongful death.
However, there is a possibility that they could pursue a case advancing the theory of abuse based on many of the allegations that have recently surfaced.
If parents could prove that there was ongoing neglect of Terri, they might have a compelling case.
Despite the fact that this case presents very clearly defined moral issues, it remains a very complicated case from a legal perspective. Our legal system isn't very good at this sort of thing.
Maybe Dollar Coins was previously posting things that sounded like they were against Terri, but in reality was looking for info to back up either side. So far the media has done a great job in getting out Michael's side of things, and little against him. We have changed many minds here on FR when people have come honestly looking for info about the case. I think that may be the situation with DC. Give him a break.
There is so much "stuff" that stinks in this case. I read the habeas corpus filing the other day and it seems that Michael was aware of the conflict of interest issue. Greer stated he would act as Terri's guardian...however, it's my understanding that under Florida law Greer can't act as both guardian and trier of fact. There is so much reversible error in this case...how can the Appeals court not see it?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1368808/posts?page=147#147
The above is your original post/challenge to what side I was taking. You are the one being made to look dishonest. I have posted many times in Terri's defense. I do not have the time or the patience to deal with someone going in circles trying to bite there own tail.
It is not an issue of "how can the appeals court not see the reversible error". The reality is they have not even looked at the case, they are basing their decisions on judge Greers decision and this is why the family and Terri are not getting any justice.
A lot of docs were on terrisfight.org
It's my understanding that Greer has never ruled on the petition to remove MS as guardian.
I'm not sure if tehe the 6th circuit rulings are online. Could probably google for it.
I'm sorry but I can't do it just now.
I wish I knew. I'm guessing that they are only looking at certain things, and not everything that's out there. If this were a criminal trial, I think it would be very different! I want a grand jury to convene and look into this, BEFORE Terri dies!
Re: your tagline-Adam Ant?
I'm not sure I understand...If Greer appointed himself guardian that would be a matter of record...if he continued as trier of fact..that too would be a matter of record. If this is a violation of Florida law (Which I believe I read it was) wouldn't that in and of itself allow the Appeals court to remand back to the trial court?
Thanks for your help anyway, tut! I know that we are all busy. I have to stop for a while and make more phone calls.
"The MD that testified on behalf of Micheal saw her for 45 minutes total..TOTAL!"
AND the MD for the Schindlers was given a Nobel prize in medicine for his work with brain damaged patients. He spent several hours with her. His testimony was disregarded.
If he did remember that later...why didn't he return the remainder of the rehab money?
Miichael Schiavo should be arrested for premeditated murder of his wife, Terri Schiavo.
That is what would happen in a righteous nation.
It would be impossible for him to give a ruling that would hold up under appeal without allowing Michael to be deposed. If Michael were subjected to deposition, that would prove that he's been sandbagging her condition and probably lying about her wishes to boot.
There needs to be some change to judicial procedure to allow appeals of a judge's refusal to schedule a case.
I agree with you. My point is that the appeals court must not have seen those records or what you state would be exactly true.
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