Posted on 08/29/2003 10:41:03 PM PDT by kimmie7
'Exit protocol' for brain-disabled woman? Husband orders wife removed from hospital despite severe illness
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: August 29, 2003 6:15 p.m. Eastern
By Sarah Foster © 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
A five-year legal battle over whether a brain-disabled woman should be allowed to live or forced to die of starvation took another turn today when Michael Schiavo ordered his wife Terri removed from a hospital where she is being treated for a severe infection.
Terri Schindler-Schiavo before her disability.
The move back to a hospice where the Florida woman has lived for more than three years could lead to her death, a family spokeswoman told WorldNetDaily.
"The family is very concerned Terri won't be properly cared for at the hospice and won't make it through the weekend," said Pamela Hennessey.
Terri still is reported to be "extremely congested and at least a bit feverish," Hennessey said.
The Schindler family fears this move is intended as an "exit protocol," with the intention of hastening her death, Hennessey said in a just-issued statement.
"There can't be any way Terri was well enough to leave the hospital," Terri's sister Suzanne Schindler-Carr told Hennessey. "She's still such a very sick girl."
It was the second such crisis in less than two weeks and the most recent development in the on-going battle between Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, and their son-in-law that began with his efforts to remove the feeding tube Terri depends upon for sustenance.
Michael Schiavo (Photo: WFLA-TV)
According to documents filed with the court, Terri was transferred Sunday from the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast to the emergency room of Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, Fla., because of vomiting, fever, coughing, and severe diarrhea. Tests revealed lung congestion and an elevated white blood cell count, indicating a "substantial infection."
The Schindler's attorney Patricia Anderson said a federal statute prohibits an institution from discharging a person before they've been stabilized medically. But a patient can always discharge himself against medical advice.
"Since Michael Schiavo is Terri's legal guardian, he can do that, and that's what he's doing," said Anderson.
By order of an appeals court, Judge George Greer of Florida's 6th Circuit Court will hold a hearing Sept. 11 to set a date for removing the feeding tube, which would lead to starvation within 10 to 14 days.
Schiavo's request to order Terri returned to the hospice was faxed to Greer yesterday by his legal representative, right-to-die attorney George Felos, and is the second attempt this week to ensure his wife receives no medical treatment.
The day following her readmission to Morton Plant, Felos filed papers asking the court to order all treatment for Terri stopped "other than comfort care" for her infection and any additional medical problems that might arise.
In an emergency motion faxed Monday afternoon to Greer, Felos argued that since the courts of Florida had approved the removal of her feeding tube, death by starvation was a foregone conclusion and there was no need to intervene.
"Given the imminence of the ward's death, further treatment (other than comfort care) for the ward's infection and other medical problems is unnecessary, unwarranted, inappropriate, and futile," he declared.
He also requested an "immediate hearing" to set the date for removal of Terri's feeding tube.
Judge Greer denied the motion Tuesday, stating such a determination would require a hearing, but endorsed Schiavo's request to return her to the hospice.
As WorldNetDaily reported, the Schindlers have been locked in a decade-long battle with their son-in-law over the care and custody of their daughter, who suffered massive brain damage when she collapsed at their home 13 years ago under unexplained circumstances at the age of 26.
The bitter dispute over Terri's quality of care erupted five years ago into a full-blown euthanasia battle when Schiavo petitioned the court for permission to have her feeding removed, claiming she is in a persistent vegetative state and would not want to be kept alive by "artificially." Although Terri breathes on her own and maintains her own blood pressure, she requires a tube for nourishment and hydration. The Schindlers and a number of doctors and therapists believe that with therapy she could be rehabilitated, but the courts have consistently sided with Schiavo and attorney George Felos.
This current emergency medical crisis was essentially a replay of events two weeks ago when Terri was taken to Morton Plant because she was coughing up blood and appeared to have aspiration pneumonia. She was returned to the hospice less than a week later, before she had fully recovered.
As before, the Schindlers have not been apprised their daughter's condition, despite a 1996 court order in which Schiavo agreed to inform the Schindlers of any changes in his wife's physical condition.
The Schindlers learned about Terri's emergency transfer from the hospice to the hospital Monday morning, hours after the fact. Not until their attorney Patricia Anderson received a fax from George Felos informing her of Terri's sudden crisis did they have any information.
Pamela Hennessey recalled last Monday's events for WorldNetDaily.
"As soon as they heard, her parents went immediately to the hospital and to the admissions section, and the first thing admissions said was there's no one here by that name," said Hennessey.
"Then they did confirm she was there, but did not tell them what room she was in, Hennessey continued. "So the Schindlers had to carry on for at least an hour before they found out where Terri even was. They never got any indication of her condition, diagnosis, prognosis, nothing. And they still haven't. All they know is Terri has a massive infection and fever."
Pat Anderson reports Mary Schindler has been with her daughter every day, all day until 8 p.m., when hospital rules dictate they must leave. Bob Schindler says she holds Terri in her arms, and when they started to leave, Terri's eyes fill with tears.
'Exit protocol'?
Terri's current medical crisis drew the attention of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who said he was "disturbed" by rumors about Schiavo's actions related to Terri's current care. In his letter to Greer Tuesday requesting a delay in removal of Terri's feeding tube until certain issues are investigated, Bush called specific attention to Schiavo's request to disallow treatment.
"It has come to my attention that Mrs. Schiavo has contracted a life-threatening illness and that she may be denied appropriate treatment," the governor wrote. "If true, this indicates a decision by her caregivers to initiate an 'exit protocol' that may include withholding treatment from Mrs. Schiavo until her death, which would render this court's ultimate decision moot."
Bush urged Greer to ensure that "no act of omission or commission be allowed to adversely affect Mrs. Schiavo's health before the September 11th hearing you have set. No one involved should be permitted to circumvent due process or the court's authority in order to achieve personal objectives in this case."
Is this demonic judge a butt-buddy of pete sanger?
For an inside view, read this guardian/lawyer workshop template which came from The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast's own activist site... it's called "Hospice Rallying Points" and I am flabbergasted by the oblique references to Terri's case that are included in it. It refers specifically to the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast. Note the number of times the panelist "Judge" shows up. Also, note the number of times "assisted suicide" shows up in this document, and note that the hospital Terri just visited is the FACILITOR FOR THE "PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE" WORKSHOP...
DOWNLOAD AND READ THE WHOLE FILE. It's an inside doc, and it's going to get pulled if they know we have it.
http://www.thehospicerallyingpoints.org/http://www.thehospicerallyingpoints.org/
Here are excerpts from the document from the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast...
The Future of Death: A Community Response to End-of-Life Issues Conference Brochure Text
In 1997, the Project DECIDE coalition in Pinellas County, Florida presented the Future of Death Conference. The conference was so popular that registra ion was closed at 250 registrations and the conference was repeated several months later, again drawing 250 registrants. A template for the conference brochure is listed below.
Advance directives offer all of us options about the care provided at the end of life. As health and human service professionals, lawyers, guardians and advocates we have a profound responsibility not only to ensure access to information about the options afforded by advance directives, but also to ensure that our care systems facilitate the execution of these directives if and when it is necessary. What are the barriers to implementing advance directives? How can we ensure that people make their wishes known before it is too late? What do we do when the incapacitated patient's expressed wishes conflict with those of the family or legal caregiver? This conference will explore these and other issues relating to the selection and execution of all types of advance directives and provide participants with tools to ensure that the wishes of those we serve are honored to the best of our ability.
Conference Objectives
Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to . . .
Who Should Attend
Conference Schedule
8:30 am Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00-10:00 am Opening Session
10:00-10:15 am Morning Break
10:15-11:45 am Morning Concurrent Sessions
11:45-1:15 pm Lunch with Panel Presentation
1:30-3:00 pm Afternoon Concurrent Sessions
3:00-3:15 pm Afternoon Break
3:15-4:15 pm General Session Agenda
9:00-10:00 am -- Opening Session Perspectives on End-of-Life Care Secretary of the Department of Elder Affairs
10:15-11:45 am -- Morning Concurrent Sessions (A-E)
A. After the Document is Signed: Bridging the Legal-Medical Gap Attorney Oncologist Geriatric Nurse Practitioner
Do you know what happens after a living will is executed? What is the implementation process by different care providers? How can you, as a lawyer or guardian help resolve conflict that may arise between family members regarding treatment decisions? This session will address these and other complex situations that arise after the document is signed while examining the concept of moral suasion in these cases.
B. Relief of Suffering: Pain and Symptom Management at the End of Life f t t Advanced Practice Nurse, The Hospice Institute of the Florida Suncoast
Chaplain, The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast Licensed Mental Health Counselor, The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast
One of the most pervasive arguments in favor of legalizing physician-assisted suicide is to relieve pain and suffering. This session will discuss common myths regarding pain and symptom control at the end of life. Multidimensional assessments will be discussed to illustrate how physical, psychosocial and spiritual pain and suffering can be assessed and addressed to achieve comfort for dying patients.
C. Advocating Defensively: A Clinician s Guide to Advance Directives
Professor of Law, Stetson University College of Law Attorney The term advance directives means different things to different people. This session will provide definitions for durable power of attorney, DNRO, living wills, health care surrogate and proxy. In addition, the advocacy role of health care providers will be discussed and examined in relation to managing personal and organizational liability while focusing on the needs of the patient/client.
D. Season o Oppor unity-- Spiritual Care at the End of Life
Chaplain, The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast Dying is not just a physical event. This interactive workshop will address the issues and approaches that are involved in effective spiritual care at the end of life. It will provide background and resources to assist professional and non-professional caregivers value and positively influence the spiritual dynamics of the dying process.
E. Providers a Risk? Capacity and Informed Consent Healthcare Consultant Florida Sunshine Rehabilitation How do you define and evaluate capacity of patients and clients? During the last months of life, a person s capacity might change from one day to the next. Therefore, it is extremely important that our systems include a process to continually evaluate this sliding scale capacity to determine who will make care decisions. The session will also evaluate the relationship between capacity and advocacy.
11:45 am -- Lunch Served
12:00-1:15 pm -- Panel Presentation Death by Design: Physician Assisted Suicide
Facilitator: Morton Plant Mease Health Care
Panelists: Hemlock Tampa Bay
Oncologist
Judge
Professor College of Public Health, University of South Florida
1:30-3:00 pm -- Afternoon Concurrent Sessions (F-J) F. When Systems Conflict: Advocacy/Law/Regulations
Suncoast Guardianship Association
St Petersburg Junior College
Judge
Getting an advance directive executed can be a struggle, depending on the circumstances and care setting. This case-based session will examine potential dilemmas and identify relevant Federal and State laws and rules and regulations related to advance directives in various health care settings.
G. To Feed or Not to Feed: Nutrition and Hydration at the End of L fe Clinical Pharmacist, The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast
Infusion Nurse Manager, The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast
Some of the most difficult decisions caregivers make are in relation to nutrition and hydration. This session will focus on the advantages and/or disadvantages of artificial feeding and hydration, caregiver decisions and dilemmas, and comfort issues regarding nutrition and hydration at the end of life.
H. When Should Palliative Care Begin? Avoiding Futile Care
Professor, College of Public Health, University of South Florida
Executive Director, The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast
Many professional caregivers struggle with when to stop curative treatment in favor of palliative care. Recent national studies indicate that Americans are dying in intensive care units while receiving futile care that fails to improve the quality of their life. This session will explore the difficult process involved in the decision to begin palliative care as well as outline the dimensions of an aggressive interdisciplinary comfort care plan designed to provide dignity and comfort at the end of life.
I. Conflicts at the Bedside f t
Physician, Morton Plant Mease Health Care
Social Work Consultants of Florida Golden Age Group, Inc
At times, acting in the best interest of patients /clients conflicts with organizational policies, personal beliefs and family requests. This case-based session will assist professionals to think through a variety of difficult decisions and provide a foundation for ethical and professional decision making.
J. Bioethics Committees: What, Why, When, How
< Physician, Morton Plant Mease Health Care
Palms of Pasadena Hospital Nursing Home Administer,
The Palms of Largo
Many organizations are investigating the feasibility of developing an institutional bioethics committee. This presentation will discuss the benefits of developing a bioethics committee, including what issues to consider in the decision making process, who to invite to participate and resources in the community.
3:15-4:15 pm -- General Session
Creating a Social Change Movement: Normalizing Death in our Community
President and CEO, The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast
That has been the suspicion.
Carolyn
Carolyn
http://www.fdhc.state.fl.us/Contact/form_contactus.cfm
My uncle was "treated" for brain cancer by doctors of oncology who turned a quiet, ordinary working man who thought he was talking to Jesus and suffering incontinence problems , to a unresponsive thing curled in a fetal position in a hospice bed. That took only three radiation and chemo "treatments" and two weeks of benign neglect in the hospice finished him off. The woman he lived with for many years believed the doctors.
Only doctors can get by with administering massive doses of lethal chemicals and radiation without prosecution.
I was in a similar situation and was in the process of doing that, and it seemed as if it would be a very successful attempt. You only need to show that the current legal guardian is not acting in the best welfare of the patient.
Me too, why else would the judge be so adament about ending her life.
And maybe that's why he's trying to get rid of her now. Don't want to risk the chance of her possibly speaking again and revealing what he did to her.
And, he's planning on cremating her body as soon as she dies. Course, he's such an angel I'm sure it's not to hide any evidence. (/sarcasm)
I think Greer has his job at stake. He has made mistakes in handling this case and if Terri improves his mistakes would be investigated.
Did someone give her something to eat or drink by mouth?
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