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 nurse Carla Sauer Iyer did approach the police and hospital authorities at that time and was summarily dismissed.
Now this is starting to make more sense. Pardon me if I am playing the Devil's advocate here, but I am simply trying to make sense of the nurses statments and timing. That is all. Thank you for being patient and your response
Carla Iyer was not allowed to speak about this, until recently, because SHE WAS UNDER GAG ORDER NOT TO TALK.
I can't blame them if they were scared to come forward. Look what the media has done to the woman who read "Purpose Driven Life" to the murdered in Atlanta?
They did come forward.
The one nurse called the police for God's sake--at the time she suspected what was happening.
She was fired. And do we even know if the police investigated? What if they did? What are they going to hear? That the nurse was fired. That there's no indication that anything wrong is happening to Terri, from the same hospital that housed Terri and fired the nurse.
What else do you expect his nurse to have done? No one was listening to her.
It may also get them in trouble if they are found to have violated the HIPA standards. They have risked a lot to come forward.
I don't know - I'm such a ding dong when it comes to Judges and the court system. But from what I heard this morning on Fox they don't think the Supreme Court will take the case. Doesn't sound too promising but I am still praying for a miracle!
True. But I'm still waiting for someone to tell me why michael waited 7 yrs to say that Terri wanted to die!
If you have not heard this information about Law and Johnson before now, then you can't honestly tell me that you are well acquainted with Terri's situation, because this has been abounding on Free Republic threads for well over a year and a half with document links provided. I and many others have been begging to get more mainstream notice of this case, but they have only propagandized with Michael's side of things because the court (read Greer) has consistently ruled on his side.
None of this is new!
behold
the Culture of
Death
part
of the fabric
of American
life
A nurse can not divulge a patients medical information without the guardian's consent.
I see your point. I am wondering if some of the claims they make go beyond simply "medical information" and become criminal acts. If this is the case, by no means are they hindered by patient confidentiality etc.
The more one learns about this Michael Schiavo character, the more likely he appears to be a possible abusive spouse.
"DU forum is complaining that photos such as these "are humanizing her". "
this gets more and more disgusting. Isn't that a familiar tactic, de-humanize someone who is INCONVENIENT. ptui
Fine but lets be consistent shall we? If their testimony is ludicrous after waiting 10 years to come forward with it, then so it the testimony from Michael and friends on informed consent offered after 8 years. Right?
then you can't honestly tell me that you are well acquainted with Terri's situation
I never stated I was "well aquainted" with Terri's situation. That is precisely the motive behind my inquiry. I am however well acquainted with the law, which is why I am posting some of these questions. If you are not interested in bringing me up to speed on some of the facts, then simply do not respond to me. For those who are responding, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. It is much appreciated.
I am not that savy on the court system either. I read Wilson's dissent and it looked good but it would take me hours to find out how to look up his record, who appointed him, etc.
No - it does not look too good - the Supremes will not take the case. I am praying for a miracle too!
then so it the testimony from Michael and friends on informed consent offered after 8 years. Right
I agree with you wholeheartedly.
In a morning show interview the other day, Michael Shiavo claimed he would get no money from this. - So, if Terri does pass away, I suppose a lot of people would be watching to see whether or not this is true.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.