Terri Schiavo Autopsy: Manner of Death 'Undetermined'

CNSNews.com ^ | June 15, 2005 | Jeff Johnson

[.38sw]

I think that there is confusion over the "cause of death" and the "manner of death". Cause of death is just that - what caused it - heart attack, gunshot wound, multiple organ failure, head trauma, whatever. "Manner of Death" is natural, accidental, suicide, homicide, or in this case, undetermined.

[veronica]

What would you prefer he say?

How about "she died." Why the need to make death peaceful and pretty? He also noted she was surrounded her stuffed animals. Her parents and siblings were kept away, but thankfully, they let her have her teddy bear nearby...

[Smartaleck]

"Trying to find the link to the report, but I was under the impression from my reading that cause of death was left "undetermined"."

That was a reporters wording who probably hadn't read the report to be found here:
http://abstractappeal.com/schiavo/autopsyreport.pdf

[DCDOGG]

allegedly the report can be found here -

http://abstractappeal.com/schiavo/autopsyreport.pdf

- but you know it's the Most Sought Site In Cyberspace right now and i haven't gotten through to be able to see it yet.

[antceecee]

Thank you.
Trying to find the link to the report. I am sorry but I have been trying to keep up with these threads while trying to get some work done.
I recall (I hope correctly) that the 'report' did not list dehydration as cause of death. My earlier statement is questioning why they would not just say she died of dehydration? Seems simple enough to come to that conclusion. Prior to the removal of her feeding tube she was alive, after removal she died. Feeding tube gave her hydration and nutrition. Cause of death: Lack of hydration/nutrition. Simple.
Whatever happened to Terri years ago to disable her did not cause her death.

[drjimmy]

Personally I would have liked to see several people at the autopsy - the ME, the Schindler's expert, and another disinterested party who could have been objective. That would have been the best and most logical (and kindest to the Schindlers) approach.

I notice you left out wanting to have a Michael Shiavo expert at the autopsy. So much for balance.

[Smartaleck]

"I was just wondering if the news conference was the source of confusion on the cause of death issue."

Most likely by this reporter and article posted on FR.

Terri Schiavo Autopsy: Manner of Death 'Undetermined'
By Jeff Johnson
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
June 15, 2005
http://www.cnsnews.com//ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200506/NAT20050615d.html

[Mark was here]

Michael is a huge guy -- all he needed to do was put his forearm across her throat and push until she couldn't breathe any more. No finger prints, no bruises.

If you are going to publicly accuse someone of murder, you should publicly do so, and not make your accusations anonymously.

[Smartaleck]

"How about "she died.""

Sounds rather cold, stark and ghoulish devoid of any feelings. That wouldn't only invite a different form of criticism.

[antceecee]

Thanks.
Cause of death: Complications of Anoxic Encephalopathy
Manner of death: Undetermined

Why couldn't they state manner of death: Court ordered removal of feeding tube?
Is that or is it not the manner of death????

Just find it a bit disingenuous to implement an act of euthanasia and not list it on the death certificate as being a manner of death.

[incindiary]

I posted this question twice on another thread, and no one has replied. I'll try again here.

Who picked the doctor? Was it a court appointed doctor?

[lugsoul]

Until we see x-rays on the internet?

[lugsoul]

Not unless she had surgery first to remove the brain implant.

[sinkspur]

Who picked the doctor? Was it a court appointed doctor?

You mean the doctor who did the autopsy?

Thogmartin is the Pinellas County Medical Examiner. He does all autopsies in that county.

[cyncooper]

I had not seen that and I'm sure you're right about it being the source of confusion. Thanks for the link and explanation.

[sammycook]

"What matters is that the precedent for corruption and incompetence exists in Pinellas County right there in the ME's office... "

And there is a precedence for the President to boff the interns in the Oval Office, are you saying this is still going on?

Of course, now it all makes since, this is why Bush had the Twin Towers blown up, he was trying to distract people from finding out what he was doing with his Cuban cigars. /Major Sarcasm

[cyncooper]

By the way has the judge held Michael in contempt for failing to tell the parents where she is buried yet???

Has there been a court filing or are we now expecting the judge to rule based on media reports?

Perhaps her parents would complain to the court if they feel this needs addressing.

[Sabatier]

Smothering is one possibility. Poisoning by plants called cardiac glycosides is another. Included are oleander, foxglove, and lily of the valley. When ingested they cause potassium levels to drop and "Various dysrhythmias may alternate or progress rapidly into life-threatening rhythms, such as ventricular tachycardia." For more info, see here. The ME hasn't been able to say what caused the collapse of an otherwise healthy young woman, but I wonder if he has any hunches he can't include in an official report.

[Smartaleck]

"Manner of death: Undetermined
Why couldn't they state manner of death: Court ordered removal of feeding tube?
Is that or is it not the manner of death????"

pg 35 of the autopsy report.

7. By what mechanism did Theresa Schiavo die?/
Postmortum findings...testing show that she died of maked dehydration.

Not sure what you seem to be missing?

[bjs1779]

Thanks Smartaleck.