"I voted for Terri Schiavo,
before I voted against her."
Posted on 02/01/2006 7:29:10 AM PST by Ohioan from Florida
In the court (and courts) of life and death, a little 11-year-old Massachusetts girl named Haleigh Poutre could be the next Terri Schiavo. For those who have not heard the tragic story, Haleigh was beaten nearly to death last September, allegedly by her adoptive mother and stepfather. The beating left her unconscious and barely clinging to life.
Within a week or so of the beating, her doctors had written her off. They apparently told Haleigh's court-appointed guardian, Harry Spence, that she was "virtually brain dead." Even though he had never visited her, Spence quickly went to court seeking permission to remove her respirator and feeding tube. The court agreed, a decision affirmed recently by the supreme court of Massachusetts.
And so, no doubt with the best of intentions, a little girl who had already suffered so much was stripped by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of even the chance to fight to stay alive. If she didn't stop breathing when the respirator was removed, which doctors expected, she would slowly dehydrate to death.
Close Call
Then came the unexpected:
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
That is not a stretch T'wit.
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[Acute cortical blindness: a reversible complication of acute kidney failure in a child with burns]
An 11 year old boy was admitted to the Department of Pediatrics Medical School of Vienna with 2nd and 3rd degree burns covering 30% of his body.
He presented with complications--high fever, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration--which had led to acute renal failure.
After 6 hemodialyses renal function recovered after two weeks and the patient entered a polyuric phase. In connection with a transient dehydration the patient showed a sudden bilateral cortical blindness.
The computerized tomogram (CT) showed vague evidence of an occipital cortical ischemia. We assume that several factors have played a role in this sudden occurrence. As a result of hypovolemia and coincident anemia and electrolyte inbalance, cerebral edema and cortical tissue hypoxia with emphasis in the occipital cortical region developed in the brain possibly already damaged by burn injury. A complete reversal of the clinical state was achieved. The patient was discharged with normal vision and normalized renal function.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=6835679&dopt=Abstract
Reminds me that everyone focused on Heidi Law saying, in her deposition, that she fed Terri Jell-o, and that Terri hugely enjoyed it. Overlooked by some readers: Ms. Law also described hydrating Terri three times a day with ice chips in a washcloth. Dr. Hammesfahr caught this important detail, understood what the nurse was doing, and noted that water is the hardest thing to swallow. Terri passed that test very well.
Here is the pertinent passage:
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. I personally saw her swallow the ice water and never saw her gag. Olga and I frequently put orange juice or apple juice in her washcloth to give her something nice to taste, which made her happy. On three or four occasions I personally fed Terri small mouthfuls of Jello, which she was able to swallow and enjoyed immensely.
Thank you. I don't see bad faith here on anyone's part, and the discrepancy in medical observations is explainable. What more need be said? There's no issue here.
She had to sneak it to Terri behind Michaels back, which I am sure you know...
I think the problem is that the M.E. concluded that she was blind but did not mention the dehydration effect that may of caused it. As I more or less mentioned on another post, he was beyond his expertise in this area of dehydration and should of had a more experienced overseer in this situation. Bad faith has nothing to do with it, it is a science.
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/alert/?alertid=8489811&content_dir=ua_congressorg&mailid=custom
GALLAGHER ANNOUNCES HEALTHCARE POLICY TEAM
TALLAHASSEE – Florida Chief Financial Officer and candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor Tom Gallagher today announced the fourteen Floridians who will make up his Healthcare Policy Team. The team includes two past-presidents of the Florida Medical Association and is comprised of influential Floridians who posses healthcare knowledge and expertise. The team will advise Treasurer Gallagher and assist in formulating his vision into a comprehensive healthcare plan. This is the sixth major policy team formed by Gallagher since announcing his candidacy last year.
“The next Governor of Florida must be prepared to address Florida’s healthcare challenges,” said CFO Tom Gallagher. “Florida has a responsibility to ensure the availability, affordability and quality of health care for our children, our poor and our seniors, and my plan will see to it that we fulfill those commitments.”
Gallagher continued, “We must confront the rising cost of care for families and small-businesses, we must make Florida a more attractive place for doctors and nurses to work and live, and we must seek new ways to keep health insurance available and affordable.”
“Throughout his career, Tom Gallagher has been a champion of the most vulnerable in our state and the healthcare professionals who dedicate their lives to our well-being,” said former Speaker of the House John Trasher, who also served as General Counsel to the Florida Medical Association. “Tom understands the importance of effective, affordable and available healthcare in Florida, and he is the only candidate in this race with the record and the vision to fight for Florida’s patients and doctors.”
Tom Gallagher has a record of innovation which has provided Floridians with additional healthcare options in the past. In fact, during his time as Insurance Commissioner, Gallagher founded the Healthy Kids Corporation. Healthy Kids is an “Innovations in Government Award” winner that provides healthcare for school children in Florida. The program’s success continues to inspire similar programs in other states, as well as at the federal level and Tom Gallagher still serves as the Chairman of the Healthy Kids Board.
In addition, Tom Gallagher is the only candidate for Governor with a clear and consistent record of leadership regarding medical liability reform. He was the only candidate to stand with Governor Jeb Bush in support of Amendment 3, and he is the only candidate who has announced a comprehensive tort reform plan which includes further changes to discourage baseless medial liability lawsuits.
Gallagher has already announced major policy proposals regarding the Family, Public Safety, Insurance Reform and Tort Reform.
The members of the Gallagher for Governor Healthcare Policy Team announced today are:
1. Honorary Chair Congressman Dave Weldon, M.D., Orlando 2. Co Chair Representative Ed Homan, M.D., Tampa 3. Co Chair Representative Paige Kreegel, M.D., Punta Gorda 4. Dr. Coy Irvin, Family Practice Physician, Pensacola 5. Dr. John Katopodis, Cardiologist, Tallahassee 6. Dr. Robert Cline, past-president Florida Medical Association, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Ft. Lauderdale 7. Dr. Robert E. Marx, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Miami 8. Dr. Terrence McCoy, past-president Florida Medical Association, Family Practice Physician Tallahassee 9. Mr. Eric Pierre-Jerom, Psychiatric Nurse, Miami 10. Mr. Ben Leon, president and CEO Leon Medical Centers, Miami 11. Mr. Claudio Manubens M.D. Chief of Staff, HOFRMC, Davenport 12. Mr. Randall McElheny, Pharmacist, president of Coastelmed, Panama City 13. Mrs. Berthy de la Rosa-Aponte, chair of Social Security Administration Ticket to Work Advisory Panel, Cooper City 14. Ms. Kimberly Morrison, Nurse Practitioner, Orlando 15. Ms. Maria Delak-Gonzalez, executive director Special City for Special People, Miami 16. Ms. Monica Yohn, Nurse Practitioner, West Palm Beach
Congressman Dave Weldon, M.D., U.S. Representative Dave Weldon, M.D., F.A.C.P. of Melbourne, Florida, is an Army veteran and physician who was sworn into his first political office in November 1994 to serve the people of Florida's 15th Congressional District. As a practicing physician and Army veteran, his background and expertise have been called upon on numerous occasions in key debates, policy discussions, and leadership positions. Dave Weldon is the first medical doctor to serve from the State of Florida and is the first Republican physician and only the second physician ever to serve on the prestigious House Appropriations Committee. He is also the first representative from East-Central Florida to be appointed to the Appropriations Committee. Weldon was appointed vice-chairman of the Appropriations Science, State, Justice and Commerce Subcommittee, which has funding oversight of several key executive branch agencies including NASA. Weldon is a member of the Autism Caucus, the Cancer Caucus, the Renewable Energy Caucus, the Tourism Caucus, and the Military Veterans Caucus. Weldon is also a member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars, Post 453A, known as the “Rocket Post,” in Rockledge, Florida.
Representative Ed Homan, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon from Tampa. Dr. Homan is a graduate of Louisiana State University and the Louisiana State University School of Medicine. Dr. Homan served two years in the United States Navy before moving to Florida in 1975. He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2002, and has been reelected subsequently. He is past-president of the Hillsborough County Medical Association, a member of the Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce, Assistance Clinical Professor of Orthopedics at the University of South Florida Medical School, and a member of the West Central Florida Health Council.
Representative. Paige Kreegel, M.D., a medical doctor from Punta Gorda, Dr. Kreegal is a graduate of the New York Medical College, received an MBA from IMPAC University, interned at the University of Tennessee Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, and served as Emergency Department physician at St. Josephs Hospital in Port Charlotte. He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2004. He also serves as physician for the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Special Weapons and Tactics team. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the Charlotte County Cattlemen’s Association, The Florida Medical Association, the Gulf Cost Citrus Growers Association, and the Peace River Valley’s Citrus Growers Association. Dr. Kreegal also served as Associate Professor at the University of South Florida, founded American-Medic clinic, and has made several medical mission trips to Ecuador, Peru, and Nicaragua.
Dr. Coy Irvin, a prominent healthcare leader in Northwest Florida, currently serves as president of the Escambia County Medical Society and as a partner in the Gulf Coast Physician Partners medical group. Dr. Irvin is a graduate of the University of Mississippi Medical School and completed his Internship and Residency programs at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. He is a current member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Florida Academy of Family Physicians and has admitting privileges at both Baptist Hospital and Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
Dr. John Katopodis M.D., F.A.C.C., a Cardiologist from Tallahassee who is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease. Dr. Katopodis specialized in Interventional Cardiology and Cardiac Catheterization. Dr. Katopodis is a graduate from the New York University School of Medicine, and completed his
Mr. Benjamín León, Jr., a native of Oriente, Cuba, is a visionary in the healthcare field. Mr. León has been making a difference in the lives of seniors and families of Miami-Dade County for more than four decades, having been founder of the first HMO in the State of Florida. Under his leadership, Leon Medical Centers has become one of the largest and most prestigious healthcare institutions in the state and is poised to redefine the status quo in the industry. His dedication to improving healthcare delivery lead Mr. León to participate in national, government-sponsored pilot programs for Medicaid and Medicare to test whether these could be run through managed care organizations. His commitment also earned him a significant appointment by Former Governor Lawton Chiles and Governor Jeb Bush to the Advisory Council of Elder Affairs. In addition, he has served on the Board of Directors for Alliance for Aging, and currently serves as Honorary Board Member.
Mr. Eric Pierre-Jerom, Miami Psychiatric Nurse and the past 2nd Vice President for the Haitian American Nurses Association (HANA).
Ms. Monica Yohn is a Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Research Coordinator for the Practice of Dr. Kenneth Beer. She is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University with a bachelors degree in Nursing.
Robert E. Marx, DDS, Dr. Marx joined the University of Miami, School of Medicine in 1984, became Professor of Surgery in 1990, and became Department Chairman in 1995.Dr. Marx has received numerous awards including the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Research Recognition Award, the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Harry S. Archer Award for Scientific Contributions, the Donald B. Osbon Award for Outstanding Educator, the William J. Gies Award for Life Long Contributions to the Advancement of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the Paul Bert Award for Scientific Contributions in the Field of Hyperbaric Medicine, and the Distinguished Clinical Lectureship of the Portland Bone Symposium.
Robert E. Cline, M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon, has been in private practice in Fort Lauderdale for the past 22 years. Dr. Cline was President of the Florida Medical Association from September 2002 to 2003.Dr. Cline received his college and medical education at Duke University and Duke University School of Medicine. Following surgical residency at Duke University Medical Center, Dr. Cline was on the teaching staff at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas and Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Texas Medical School in San Antonio. Dr. Cline has held several surgical chief posts at the North Ridge Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale and is currently on their Board of Directors. A Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and American College of Surgeons, Dr. Cline is Board certified in surgery and thoracic surgery. He served on the Board of Governors of the Florida Medical Association from 1994 to 2004 and has been an officer of the Association serving as Secretary, Vice President, President-Elect and President. He is also a Delegate from Florida to the American Medical Association. During his Presidency of the Florida Medical Association, Dr. Cline led the FMA’s efforts directed at meaningful tort reform in Florida. Dr. Cline participated in rallies around the state with physicians from Florida and representatives of the AMA, including on many occasions, Dr. Yank Coble and Dr. Donald Palmisano, AMA Past Presidents. While all the goals of the FMA were not met in legislation that did pass the Florida Legislature, Dr. Cline led a coalition of interested leaders among the business community and government officials that brought to the forefront of the public the seriousness of the professional liability insurance crisis in Florida. In December 2005, Dr. Cline was appointed by Governor Bush to the Florida Board of Medicine for a four-year term ending in 2009.
Claudio Manubens M.D. Chief of Staff, HOFRMC, Davenport Chief of Staff, Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center, which is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO). The Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO). This means they voluntarily submit to an extensive evaluation of our compliance with JCAHO hospital standards on a continuing basis means we voluntarily submit to an extensive evaluation of our compliance with JCAHO hospital standards on a continuing basis.
Terence P. McCoy, M.D., a family practice doctor, has been in private practice in Tallahassee for the past 30 years. Dr. McCoy was President of the Florida Medical Association from 2000 to 2001. Dr. McCoy received his college and medical education at the University of Dublin, Trinity College and the Royal College of Physicians in London. Following medical and surgical internships in Dublin and Belfast, he moved with his wife and baby daughter to Tallahassee where he was one of the early graduates of the Family Practice Residency Program at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. A Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice, Dr. McCoy is Board Certified in Family Practice and is also a Fellow of the American College of Occupational Physicians. Dr. McCoy served on the Board of Governors of the Florida Medical Association for many years, was Vice Speaker of the House of Delegates from 1995-98 and Speaker of the House of Delegates in 1998 and 1999. He is a Delegate from Florida to the American Medical Association where he has served on several reference committees dealing with the full spectrum of health care issues. On the local level, he was Chief of the Medical Staff and Member of the Board of Directors at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. Dr. McCoy is a Past President of the Capital Medical Society.
Randall A. McElheney, a pharmacist from Panama City, Florida. He is the founder of Coastalmed, Inc. a long term care pharmacy. He is the co-owner of 17 nursing homes across the state of Florida. Randall served on the Governor’s Policy Transition Team for Health Services in 1998 and as Team Leader at the Department of Health Transition Team in 2002. Randall currently is the Chairman of the Northwest Florida Transportation Corridor Authority.
Berthy De La Rosa-Aponte - Resides in Broward County, with her husband Milton and her youngest daughter Luz Elena who has significant developmental disabilities. Berthy has been an advocate for the rights of individuals with disabilities for over 25 years, and has served in several local, state and national boards and committees. She is the current chair of the National Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Advisory Panel, appointed by the Speaker of the House in 2003 and in 2004 designated by the President Bush to chair the Panel. She is a naturalized US citizen, born in Colombia, South America & holds a Masters of Arts Degree. Ms. De La Rosa-Aponte has worked as school guidance counselor, a Waiver Support Coordinator for the Florida Developmental Disabilities Medicaid Waiver program, and a Principal Investigator for the Florida Family Support Project: Juntos Podemos (Together We Can) a Project of National Significance.
Ms. Kimberly Morrision, is a nurse practitioner at ORMC Cancer Center at MD Anderson and she has a masters in Nursing from the University of Florida.
Maria Delak-Gonzalez, Executive director of “Special City for Special People” Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to create and support the development of people with special needs to higher levels of self-sufficiency and maximum integration within society. Maria is a native of Cuba and has dedicated her life to being an advocate for those in need. She has become one of the pioneers for Medicaid waiver providers, serving the developmentally disabled. The Mission of "Special City for Special People" is to create an educational, recreational and sports center where people with developmental disabilities can learn multiple skills throughout their application of innovative and successful methods and technology, developing their abilities to work and intensify their mental knowledge and physique.
Gallagher for Governor Communications
02/16/2005
FV says: Tom Gallagher for Governor put together a policy team who work in communities saving lives. Smart move by Gallagher to put a health care plan together that includes all Floridians.
Good catch! : )
If an RN working for ACHA felt she was on to something, she would be taken off the complaint investigation by a higher up.
CHERYL FORD'S BOOK AT:
www.ourfight4terri.com or www.amazon.com?
I went straight to the Violations Chapter in CF's book. What a tangled web they all wove around this agency to that judge or department and back. It was not a mere coverup. It was a conspiracy to commit murder. There is no statute of limitations on murder.
Judge Greer is the main culprit. He should be prosecuted for all the felonies he committed. I'm not holding my breath though.
Terri was without her loving family for the Easter of 2004 and also for Mother's Day. Around Mother's Day, Debra Bushnell, death lawyer, told the Schindlers that due to the allegations, they would have to pay to see Terri to pay for security.
All allegations were false and instead of contacting the hospice physician, the nurses at hospices called Michael Schiavo FIRST.
But, the odd thing is that the Press Release by George Felos about "needle marks" had a time stamp earlier than the time frame that hospice reported the incident to begin with.
Remember Murder She Wrote? Maybe Angela Lansbury should reprise her role and catch some of these bad guys in Fla.
The Most Dangerous Judge in America written by June Maxam of NCG was excerpted by www.congress.org.
"I voted for Terri Schiavo,
before I voted against her."
Welcome back. I was wondering where you had disappeared to so suddenly. I hope you're mistaken about it being a relapse, and you really just had a bad couple days. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
She and another CNA named Olga. (No, robertpaulsen, they were not "candystripers." CNAs were the duty nurses at that facility.)
Yes, it was very clear that Michael terrorized the nursing staffs wherever he placed Terri. Good bet that's why we haven't heard more from those nurses -- though there has been quite enough said to give us a picture.
Several have said they were AFRAID to come forward. At least two I can think of got fired for saying something. That's worth thinking about, isn't it? Why on earth should medical professionals be afraid of telling the truth? Who intimidated them and how?
Fair enough.
North Country Gazette reports this morning on Caplan.
Arthur Caplan is one of Michael Schiavo's biggest fans.
He was one of the most outspoken advocates to kill Terri Schindler Schiavo.
Still is.
Commentary - Media Bias and the Schiavo Case
8mm
Weaknesses in family structure harmful to aging population
8mm
ProLifeBlogs references the North Country Gazette story which has a link that works. Here is their sequence:
North Country Gazette story
EDITORIAL - Eroding Public Confidence
And starring inter alia Mikey, Greer, Cranford, and Caplan...kicking off Sunday, April 30, after church, I suppose.
As the center celebrates ten years of excellence in the quest for bioethicking.
8mm
WARNING ABOUT EMAIL SOLICITATION - [CatPet] Don't Let Terri Schiavo's Name Be Exploited (who's doing the exploiting?!)
Upon receiving the emailer solicitation for money from RightMarch.com (see below), I contacted Terri Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, who are personal friends of mine. I wanted to get their opinion about RightMarch.com and William Greene's pitch for money using their daughter's name. I was informed that this is not associated with the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation. RightMarch was asked to stop using Terri Schiavo's name to fund raise. As you can see from the email below that request was not honored. The Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation website states the following:
Any sources soliciting contributions on behalf of Terri other than the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation are not affiliated or endorsed by Terri's Foundation or the Schindler family. If you are receiving any contribution requests of this nature, please bring this immediately to our attention as they could be mail or internet fund-raising schemes
Do not exploit Terri Schiavo's name, Mr. Greene. On this point we agree.
Mark Pickup
North American disability advocate
amen
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