Posted on 02/27/2009 5:47:09 AM PST by BykrBayb
DOCUMENTARY REVEALS NEW DETAILS IN TERRI SCHIAVO CASE
By Gina Adams
Story Published: Feb 25, 2009 at 5:31 PM CST
Story Updated: Feb 25, 2009 at 5:34 PM CST
The story of Terri Schiavo caused a nationwide uproar that garnered the attention of the worldwide media, the U.S. Congress, and even the office of the President of the United States.
The ethical and cultural implications of her case are still being felt throughout society and continue to spark debate.
In the newly-released documentary, The Terri Schiavo Story (Franklin Springs Family Media), previously unexplored facts of the case are revealed through in-depth interviews with participants on both sides of the issue.
Hosted by author and speaker Joni Eareckson Tada, who became personally involved in the case in 2005, The Terri Schiavo Story sheds new light on the controversial decision that led to the death of a 41-year-old disabled woman.
In 1990, at the age of 26, Terri Schindler Schiavo suffered a mysterious cardio-respiratory arrest for which no cause has ever been determined.
She was diagnosed with hypoxic encephalopathy - a neurological injury caused by lack of oxygen to the brain. Terri was placed on a ventilator, but was soon able to breathe on her own and maintain vital function.
She remained in a severely compromised neurological state and was provided a PEG tube to ensure the safe delivery of nourishment and hydration.
On March 31, 2005, Terri Schindler Schiavo died of marked dehydration following more than 13 days without nutrition or hydration under the order of Circuit Court Judge, George W. Greer of the Pinellas-Pasco's Sixth Judicial Court.
Veteran producer and director Ken Carpenter felt the story deserved to be re-told, but he did not anticipate the amount of new information that would come to light.
"Working on this project made clear to me that we need to keep Terri's story alive. Our children need to know the lines were drawn when our government and court system let Terri die. Knowing the full story - not just what we heard in the media - equips us to address new challenges to our faith."
Joni Eareckson Tada, herself disabled after a diving accident which left her a quadriplegic in a wheelchair and unable to use her hands, says what happened to Terri continues to affect disabled citizens.
"The story remains relevant because there are countless people like Terri Schiavo whose lives are in grave danger because of unclear custody and guardianship laws," says Tada. "Plus, more states (under futile care policy directives) are quietly removing the feeding tubes from brain-injured people when families abandon their responsibilities. Feeding tubes are providing basic care, not medical treatment."
Terri's brother, Bobby Schindler, was interviewed at length in the documentary and is now involved in helping families in similar circumstances through The Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation.
Schindler believes the truth about his sister's death has been distorted and hidden - until now.
"Our hope is that people will learn the truth about what happened to Terri," says Schindler, "and realize the atrocity that it was and that anyone who claims that her death was 'peaceful' and 'painless' is lying. It is because of the truly inhumane nature of death by dehydration that when people are killed this way it is always done behind closed doors in the strictest secrecy. I wholeheartedly believe that if the public had been allowed to witness Terri's suffering first hand, the outcry would have deafened Florida and the world."
Tada was on the front lines with Terri's family in 2005, helping lead the protests that eventually landed in the halls of the U.S. Congress. "I hope that people understand that Terri Schiavo's story is really our story," says Tada.
"We have a special obligation to protect the weak and vulnerable in our society. We have a responsibility to uphold their human dignity -- because we are of equal dignity, we are not at each other's disposal. The weak and the vulnerable need their rights safeguarded and protected... we must not allow them to become eroded. For when we do, we are jeopardizing the rights of us all."
Originally produced as an episode for the Joni & Friends television series, Franklin Springs Family Media felt the story was compelling enough to produce as a stand-alone project.
Their decision was recently justified when The Terri Schiavo Story won the Jubliee Award for Best Documentary at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival.
Franklin Springs Family Media founder Ken Carpenter believes the documentary should be seen by every church and organization that cares about policies related to the disabled and pro-life issues.
"I hope this film helps us see that our understanding of complex situations such as Terri's should not be rooted in popular opinion, but in biblical standards."
Carpenter took home the Dove Award for Long Form Video in 2007 for Amy Grant's Time Again, and in 2006 for Mark Schultz' A Night of Story and Songs.
Carpenter also recently produced and directed the latest John Tesh television special - John Tesh Alive.
Through his Franklin Films production company, Carpenter has produced projects for many of the leading names in Christian entertainment and ministry, including Michael W. Smith, Compassion International, Steven Curtis Chapman, The Gideons, Jeremy Camp, eHarmony, dcTalk, Integrity Publishers, Mercy Me, Big Idea Productions, Casting Crowns, and many others.
Carpenter launched Franklin Springs Family Media in 2005.
For more information and to view a trailer for the new documentary, click here: www.TheSchiavoStory.com.
For more information on Franklin Springs Family Media,visit: www.FranklinSprings.com.
For more information on The Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation, visit: www.TerrisFight.org.
For more information on Joni Eareckson Tada, visit: www.JoniandFriends.org.
Is this better? Could you lock the other one ( http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2195226/posts ), and redirect to this thread?
Thank you. : )
Much better!
This was where America showed its present face. Not enough of us took to the streets to demand that an innocent woman must not be put to death. And a slow horrible death, and she disabled, and her family begging for her life.
Yet we are supposed to think that, given a little more time and provocation, we will rise up and fight for gun rights or property rights, or against abortion or socialism, and we’ll have us a Second Revolution to restore what was.
Terri Schiavo was murdered in broad daylight. Her killers are known. They remain free and unpunished. Life goes on. No, we are now dead men walking.
Yet we are supposed to think that, given a little more time and provocation, we will rise up and fight for gun rights or property rights, or against abortion or socialism, and we’ll have us a Second Revolution to restore what was.
Terri Schiavo was murdered in broad daylight. Her killers are known. They remain free and unpunished. Life goes on. No, we are now dead men walking.
Excellent Post!
I truly believe that America will one day look back on Terri's murder as a defining moment. It certainly showed the Bush family in a whole new light.
“I wholeheartedly believe that if the public had been allowed to witness Terri’s suffering first hand, the outcry would have deafened Florida and the world.” — Bobby Schindler
I would say to Bobby Schindler, you were there. You saw. As a witness you can still help to show others. You don’t have the budget for a movie, perhaps; not yet. And understandably there is personal pain to relive, in recreating the events. But I hope someday you will be in a position to advise a filmmaker in this regard, guide them to recreate what you saw and heard, and then the public WOULD see, if only via the powerful visual medium. And God willing they WOULD be outraged.
Some people need to be drawn a picture, some need to immerse themselves in cinema, before they understand.
PS: I’m assuming a documentary is not going to employ dramatic technique, and that IMO is a mistake.
Well said and sadly so true.
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It's a few days early, but this is an appropriate thread as we approach the fourth anniversary of Terri's murder.
Thread by me.
Rome, Italy (LifeNews.com) -- Eluana Englaro's father Beppino may be charged with murder in association with the starvation and dehydration euthanasia death of his daughter. After an international debate over whether she should be denied food and water, Beppino used the right he won in court to take his daughter's life.
The disabled woman had been in a minimally conscious state since 1992, when she was involved in an automobile accident.
Englaro ultimately died earlier this month after having part of her food and water denied to her through her feeding tube over a five day period.
Now, pro-life groups in Italy have triggered an investigation into Beppino's actions that could end up with local prosecutors charging him with murder. . .
"We will not be silent.
We are your bad conscience.
The White Rose will give you no rest."
Story and thread by Steven Ertelt of Life News.
Washington, DC -- The White House quietly announced on Friday that President Barack Obama is starting the process of overturning protections President Bush put in place to make sure medical staff and centers are not forced to do abortions. The move is the latest that will add to Obama's growing pro-abortion record.
Existing federal laws already make it so doctors and hospitals are not required to perform abortions. Because those laws aren't always followed, the Bush administration added additional protections.
Now, the Obama administration is Starting the process to remove them. . .
Thread by EternalVigilance.
Helena, Montana - 02/26/2009 - Montana's Senate passed constitutional Personhood Amendment, SB 406, in a 26-24 vote. The amendment, introduced by Senator Dan McGee, passed on its third reading on the Senate floor this morning. This is the first Personhood Amendment in U.S. history to pass a State Senate.
"Senator Dan McGee, writing the language of SB 406 himself, has shown what it truly means to be pro-life," stated Keith Mason, of Personhood USA. "Senator McGee's successful efforts on behalf of all human beings at all stages of human life are a giant step forward in historic efforts to ensure the rights and protection of every individual."
SB 406, which defines person for the purposes of application of inalienable rights, states, "All persons are born free and have certain inalienable rights...person means a human being at all stages of human development of life, including the state of fertilization or conception, regardless of age, health, level of functioning, or condition of dependency."
"Praise God! The honor of being the first State Senate in U.S. history to recognize the personhood of pre-born children goes to Montana," commented Cal Zastrow of Personhood USA. "Thanks to the leadership of Sen. Dan McGee, The Montana Personhood Amendment now moves forward to the State House of Representatives."
. . .
Thread by me.
ROME, February 26, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - If a patient is able to process oxygen from the lungs into the bloodstream, maintain a normal body temperature, digest food and expel waste, grow to normal adult size from the age of four to twenty, and even carry a child to term, can he or she be considered dead? Can a person who is "dead" wake up and go on later to finish a university degree? Can a corpse get out of bed, go home and go fishing? Can he get married and have children?
These are among the real-life stories of patients declared "brain dead" presented by medical experts at the "Signs of Life" conference on "brain death" criteria held near the Vatican in Rome last week. Ten speakers, who are among the world's most eminent in their fields, sounded a ringing rebuke to the continued support among medical professionals and ethicists for "brain death" as an accepted criterion for organ removal. . .
To my mind, the issue shouldn't have been whether a person may be fatally dehydrated if there is tangible evidence of their having given informed consent to precisely that, but rather whether a 'husband' who has openly promised himself to another woman may credibly claim to act in the best interests of his 'wife', especially when acting in ways which common sense would suggest would be contrary to such interest.
Exactly, by ANY STANDARD when a man leaves his wife, moves in with another woman and has children with her, he has ABANDONED the marriage.
Moreover, even if Terri had an advanced medical directive (which she didn't), it COULD NOT have covered dehydration/starvation because food and water were not considered "life support" at the time of Terri's injury. The reason for this is because civilized people have NEVER considered food and water anything but basic human needs.
This is wonderful. Can’t wait to see it!
As Cal Zastrow says, GLORY!!!!!
Thanks for the ping!
Our politicians need to hear from us, as well as Obama, about how evil it is to force prolife doctors, hospitals, et al to perform abortions (or get out of the maternity business).
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