NEWS: Doctors Remove Terry Schiavo's Feeding Tube, page 2

Originally posted by jukyu
Ok lets break this down a little and look at some of the facts that are coming out now that until recently have been kept hidden:

Okay. This was the best post I've seen on the subject so far by the way. Congratulations are in order.

Originally posted by jukyu
1. Her husband claims that she dropped mysteriously due to a heart attack from a potassium imbalance. Michael Schiavo was present at the time, is trained in CPR, yet never administered it to his wife that had just dropped to the floor.

Potassium deficiency can lead to angina and severe hypertension, though the symptoms are usually evidenced over a long period of time rather than in a catastrophic heart failure. Is there any evidence from before her accident to corroborate this possibility? How do we know he didn't administer CPR? Did they just check for chest bruises or base that assumption off her vital signs, or was someone there with him? Is there any way to know if a person has recently received CPR?

Originally posted by jukyu
2. a bone scan that was performed on Terri on March 5, 1991 showed that there were several broken bones including her pelvis, back, ankle, bone bruises, and ossifications. She was examined by a board certified radiologist who gave a deposition in 1993. It was stated in this deposition that her injuries were not consistent with a fall due to a heart attack or being bed ridden for the 13 months before the scan. He said that they were more consistent with being thrown into sharp furniture or assaulted with a blunt object.

That would appear to be pretty damning evidence... It is possible however, for people whose bodies don't properly assimilate minerals such as calcium and potassium to have brittle bone disorders. This possibility can't be completely discounted.

Originally posted by jukyu
3. Dr. Michael Baden, a well known forensic pathologist, stated on October 23, 2003 that the enzyme imbalance that has supposedly caused her condition was extrodinarily unlikely to have caused a heart attack. He also stated that the bone injuries seemed to him to have been caused by a fall or a beating and should have been investigated in 1991.

Well I don't know the particulars of this imbalance, but I would tend to agree based on my research on Potassium deficiencies and the fact, as I've said, that it tends to be a crippling rather than catastrophic onset. Did he examine her, or did he base his findings off the consultation of another doctor? The latter is quite common, and in my opinion, tantamount to malpractice.

Originally posted by jukyu
4. Other medical experts have testified that a diagnosis of a heart attack was never made in Terri's case and that her rigid neck injuries were consistent with being strangled.

Hypertension can cause severe, crippling muscle contractions, extreme pain, and in some cases death. It is a possibilty. These experts testified in court at the settlement hearing I assume? If not, then where did they testify, and under what circumstances?

Originally posted by jukyu
5. Her husband has received a court order to have her cremated immediately following her death. This will prevent there from being any autopsy done on her that might bring out more of what caused her condition.

As I understand it, no cremation would be necessary to prevent autopsy. The law may vary in Florida, but I think the legal guardian can refuse autopsy on several grounds. So, unless Florida has mandatory autopsies excepting those people covered by a court order, this isn't really an indication of his guilt. But it certainly does SOUND suspicious enough to get people riled up...

Originally posted by jukyu
6. During a civil trial that led to a $2 million verdict for Terri from abuse that occured after her accident her husband stated that he would do everything in his power to rehabilitate her and would be with her forever. After the verdict he euthanized her cats, stopped all therapy, melted down her wedding and engagement rings, and is quoted by a nurse at the hospice as having asked if there was any way to accelerate her death. Much of that money has now been spent but about $500,000 remains.

Okay, the lawsuit didn't target him, so why is it an issue? He claimed the doctors caused her injuries? Him getting rid of her cats and melting down their wedding band seems more like signs of him trying to get on with his life after a tragic loss, rather than some concerted effort to harm her. He claims her wish was to die, so it would make sense he would ask the nurse a question like that. What relevance does the remaining sum have? Is it because people think he wants to keep the rest if he can dispatch her in a timely fashion?

Originally posted by jukyu
6. According to Terri Schiavo's brother less then a year after the onset of her condition Michael Schiavo was talking about moving in with another woman. He has since moved in with a women, been in a relationship with her for 10 years, and has fathered 2 children.

This is called getting on with life, and it is not evidence of murder. It's a stage that is reached eventually by all people who suffer the loss of a loved one. Some reach it earlier than others. I think this is unfair, to judge him on the rapidity of his healing process. While it might upset some of us, it's certainly not evidence of any wrong doing.

Originally posted by jukyu
7. Before her condition occured Michael Schiavo had been put on several drugs for anger management, had lost several jobs due to his temper, was living off of his wives income which he frequently overspent, and on the day of the supposed heart attack he had gotten into a fight with her about spending too much money at a hair dresser. In a previous altercation involving Mr. Schiavo his doctor had suggested that in future altercations the police should be called.

"Which he frequently overspent" I assume this is testimony from her family members who wish to see him in jail? The fact that he was a violent man is definitely disturbing, and it could very well be the best piece of, albeit still circumstantial, evidence in this case.

Originally posted by jukyu
8. Michael Schiavo was offered $1 million to walk away and give up custody. He turned it down. This leaves one of two very different possibilites. Either Schiavo is very much trying to follow his wives wishes, or he knows if he accepts the money that he could be criminally implicated if Terri were rehabilitated.

Wasn't he also offered 10 million at some point? In any case, with 1 million dollars one can live the good life in any number of tropical paradises. If he killed her, I'm genuinely surprised he didn't take the money and run. That being said, he can only be criminally implicated by her legal guardians, and so that would most likely happen regardless of whether he took the money or not. Keep in mind, this is a case that is currently being tried in the court of public opinion, and that being the case, accepting the money would be tantamount to a guilty plea.

Originally posted by jukyu
9. Over 30 doctors have gone on the record stating that Terri Schiavo is not in a persistant vegitative state and has a good chance of being rehabilitated.

What's a good chance? Were any figures tossed around, percentages? When did those doctors testify? 15 years ago? Last week? Spread out over the entire span? If most of them testified to this a decade or more ago, they must be feeling pretty foolish by now...
If they testified recently, perhaps there is hope for her. Sometimes it takes the brain decades to recover..usually it doesn't recover at all. Most people who suffer brain death don't ever wake up, they have too much necrosis in their brain tissue to allow proper transmission of electrical impulses. It's like trying to make a call across broken wires. It's not impossible, not at all, but it is improbable.

Originally posted by jukyu
10. The judge in the case, which has consistently ruled in the husbands favor, has allowed several laws to be broken and is liable should any investigation occur. These liabilities involved neglect perpetrated on Terri by her husband in the last several years as her guardian. They are covered in this article.

It's my understanding that judges cannot be held criminally liable for decisions made on the bench, excepting cases in which they first get disrobed and tried by the state. The precedent for this sort of action is rare. Most judges who screw up simply leave their robe at the office and depart in shame. Most actually move to other states and resume their jobs as judges. Scary little legal fact there. I don't know the man, so I'm not going to make judgements on his character or his intentions. We hold judges to a high standard of ethics, but we also give them the benefit of the doubt because they worked extraordinarily hard to get where they are.

Originally posted by jukyu
11. The husband never stated that Terri Schiavo wanted to die until after the verdict rewarding her and her guardian money for her care. This was also around the time that he stopped rehabilitative care and other therapies and asked if anything could be done to hasten her death.

Interesting fact, circumstantial, but incriminating in the court of public opinion. Of course, he could just be a cold hearted pragmatist, wanting to capitalize as much as possible on the unfortunate events. Being cold hearted doesn't make you a murderer. Remember, murderers are imprisoned for LONG periods of time and have many other rights taken away. Criminal courts require a substantial burden of proof precisely because of this fact.

Originally posted by jukyu
12. Terri Schiavo is not on life support. She breathes on her own. The only thing that she is receiving is food and water through a feeding tube. This is not life support such as a resperator. Food and water are provided to any patient, no matter what their condition. We even give those condemned to death a last meal.

She has basic, unconscious processes intact, which explains the blinking, and the head turning as well. If she can't feel pain, starvation is not an issue. The fact that she's not on a respirator doesn't mean she's not a vegetable, necessarily. Once again though, a compelling piece of 'evidence' in the court of public opinion.

Originally posted by jukyu
This same judge is now in contempt of Congress as he is actively trying to bring death to a person that has been subpeanoed before congress. Take this information as you will.

Well, one could see this as a states rights vs. federal power issue, or one could see it as an evil judge versus righteous Republicans issue. It really depends on the paradigm you go into this thing with.

I want to again congratulate you on a very informative, and thought provoking piece of journalism. I can honestly say I know about the situation after reading your post than I did beforehand. Thanks! I'm sure all of ATS appreciates your effort.

By the way, I'm really only playing devil's advocate. I feel strongly about the states rights issue, but this case isn't emotional for me, so I'm not boxed into one perspective.