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And the additions for completeness are worthy. Thanks.

I don't think the depositions of other doctors are available. I wonder why? Perhaps the parents or their supporters are only "leaking" court papers that serve their purpose? Don't know.

As you rightly point out he was only commenting on what he saw and not making a diagnosis. However, this is not an end all to an understanding as what may or may not be there. It is only ONE tool used for assessment and not Gospel so to speak.

I find it peculiar that people are willing to put so much weight on a single bone scan, while at the same time insisting that a single CT-scan shouldn't be used to assess her PVS state and that other test should have been conducted for a more complete assessment. Can't have it both ways. :-)

I find it peculiar that people are willing to put so much weight on a single bone scan, while at the same time insisting that a single CT-scan shouldn't be used to assess her PVS state and that other test should have been conducted for a more complete assessment. Can't have it both ways. :-)

Not the same thing. Diagnosing bone trauma is much less complicated than diagnosing any brain abnormality. The CT scan would be enough if that was the current standard for diagnosing PVS and provided an accurate diagnosis most of the time. It doesn't. All the following are necessary for a diagnosis (from a letter by Dr. Felder, Board Certified Neurologist and attending neurologisit at U of Pittsburg Med. Ctr. posted on the justice for Terri website): EEG (electroencephalogram) showing cortical brainwave activity, PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Scan to show a reduction in cerebral metabolism, SSEP (Somatosensory Evoked Potential) to show brainstem neurophysiologic functioning and, MRI scan of her brain to show anatomical disruption. Most neurologists also recommend spending time with the patient (i.e. over a period of months, not 45 minutes). Dr. Felder's letter also expressed concern that Terri's EEG and CAT scan were several years old and wouldn't show changes in her brain. Even with the above tests, PVS is often misdiagnosed (one of those misdiagnosed PVS patients who made a rare complete recovery was, ironically, diagnosed by Dr. Cranford who also diagnosed Terri). Currently, there's no way to know who will recover (either fully or partially) and who won't or how long that recover will take. Evidently, neurologists have made some incredible strides in just the past few years both diagnostically and in treatment. Dr. Felder is just one of many neurologists who expressed, in writing, their concern about Terri not being given a full (recent) battery of tests to properly diagnose her condition. These were, of course, submitted to Judge Greer who refused to consider them.

Cindie