Michael Schiavo joins the fray

Salon ^ | December 7th, 2005 | Michael Scherer

[robertpaulsen]

"It is a fact that Michael recalled that Terri allegedly wanted to die only after he won the lawsuit."

That's not a fact. Where's your proof that he forgot then recalled it ONLY after he won?

Granted, he brought up that fact. But that was after he was told by her doctor that she was in a Persistent Vegetative State and that she would never recover consciousness.

Why bring it up earlier when there was still hope for Terri?

"And certainly you have no way of knowing what was in Terri's mind.

Sure I do. It was what she told Michael and two others who testified, in court, under oath, under penalty of perjury, and convinced an impartial judge with "clear and convincing" evidence as to her desire.

That is the way we do things in this country. It's called the rule of law. We do not poll people at to what THEY would want.

"You have to admit that Michael is one sadistic person. He even tried to prevent the parents from knowing where Terri was buried."

Even I know where she's buried. How could her parents not know? He buried her in Florida, near her parents, as they wished, rather than Pennsylvania, as he wanted. And that's sadistic?

[Dustbunny]

His 15 min gone and he forgotten, he is looking for another 15 min.

[robertpaulsen]

So you're saying that, since Terri was going to die anyways, it should be OK for her mother to drown her?

You come across perverted.

[jonrick46]

What I found was the article below that sums up the mysterious things surrounding the case. It's a pretty good summary. Also, I found the police report that says Terri was found laying face down halfway in a bathroom, with feet pointing in the bathroom. It describes Michael hearing a falling sound which caused him to find his unconscious wife. The most strange part of this is why did not he use CPR which is what he had through his nursing course trained, trained for?

Michael Schiavo: Loving Husband or Monster?
By Bonnie Chernin Rogoff
February 21, 2005

As national pro-life groups and prominent leaders converged in vigils outside Woodside Hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida, Terri Schiavo is inside the building in her bed, still hooked up to the feeding tube that has been center-focus of this so-called "right-to-die" case for the past several years. Ms. Schiavo is profoundly disabled and cannot communicate with words at this time.

But she knows. She feels. There's expression in those eyes. Just one look at her in a video with her mother and everyone except the Scarecrow on his way to Oz knows it, too.

Recently, another presumed "brain-dead" woman made news in Kansas. In a coma after becoming the victim of a drunk driver, Sarah Scantlin snapped out of a twenty year silence and began to speak. Memories are now coming back to her. By legal definition, Miss Scantlin's life is valid. Yesterday, it was not. Was she ever in a persistent vegetative state, or PVS? She'd respond to questions by blinking once for no, twice for yes, but since she couldn't speak no one was ever sure she understood the questions.

That's the problem. No one is ever sure. The only ones who claim to know what's best for the profoundly disabled are those who seek to benefit the most by having them legally murdered.

On Monday, February 21, new hearings will commence before Judge Greer with regard to the Schiavo case. The Empire Journal reports that David Gibbs III, attorney representing Terri's parents Robert and Mary Schindler, will argue that new medical tests be ordered for Terri based upon a new brain imaging study published in the journal Neurology. These tests could determine whether Terri Schiavo is, in fact, in a PVS. Since Judge Greer believes she is, ruled to have her killed and has thus far refused the admission of any medical evidence that would save Terri's life, I'd be shocked to see him budge.

Greer has been acting in the dual role of judge and guardian ad litem. He previously denied a petition by Terri's parents that their daughter be given a swallowing test, and has denied them the right to visit Terri. He continues to promote the interests of Michael Schiavo by refusing Terri the right to independent counsel, a right which even serial killers like Ted Bundy received.

Whenever people discuss euthanasia, you'll always find those who will defend the odious practice. However, no one defends domestic violence. That leads to the 6 ft. 6 inch, 250 pound problem: Michael Schiavo. The evidence compiled against him suggests a history and pattern of domestic abuse against Terri and other women that is strong and significant. An immediate criminal investigation is warranted.

The main evidence comes from a bone scan taken on March 5, 1991. As Terri's guardian, Michael Schiavo denied her family access to Terri's records, the results of which were not made available until November, 2002. This scan indicated numerous broken bones in various stages of healing, including compressions fractures, a broken back, pelvis, ankle, bone bruises and ossifications.

Board certified radiologist Dr. Walker read the scan in 1991 and interpreted the results as abnormal, which he attributed to either an accident or earlier trauma. Based on the remodeling process of her bones, Dr. Walker stated in his deposition that a) the injuries indicated by the scan occurred on or around the time that Terri Schiavo collapsed; b) the abnormalities on the bone scan were not typical of someone suffering cardiac arrest and collapsing to the floor, and c) the fractures indicated by the bone scan are not typical of patients bedridden only thirteen months. As recorded in Dr. Walker's November 21, 2003 deposition, Terri might have been the victim of foul play via a blow to her body, being thrown into a sharp furniture corner, or assaulted with a blunt object.

On October 24, 2003, renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden was interviewed by Greta van Susteren on Fox News. He disclosed that with low potassium and no elevated enzymes, it would be extremely rare for a young woman to collapse as Terri did from a heart attack. When asked what the bone injuries suggest to him, Dr. Baden replied, "Some kind of trauma. The trauma can be from a fall, or the trauma can be from some kind of beating that she obtained from somebody somewhere. It's something that should have been investigated in 1991 when these findings were found."

Other medical testimonies are in agreement. One medical expert testified that a diagnosis of a heart attack was never made. Another testified that Terri's rigid neck indicates she may have been the victim of strangulation. Psychiatrist and expert witness Carole E. Lieberman, M.D., M.P.H. offered preliminary thoughts and provided a chilling profile of Michael Schiavo as an abusive husband.

Prior to Terri's collapse, there were serious financial problems in her marriage and her husband Michael tried to control her behavior. He was fired from six jobs in two years, some of which he held only two weeks. They often lived on her income, which Michael often spent on himself. He monitored her odometer and isolated her from her family and friends. On the day of her collapse, Michael and Terri had a bad fight after he accused her of spending too much money at the hairdresser.

Dr. Lieberman concludes: "He (Michael) should most definitely be investigated as the perpetrator of the 'incident' that caused Terri's collapse and her current condition."

Michael Schiavo insists that Terri stated early in their marriage that she never would want to be kept on life support. Even if that were true, Terri is not on life support; she breathes on her own. Since Terri has no written will, everything Michael Schiavo says is hearsay. He violated numerous Florida statutes and the Americans for Disabilities Act by failing to perform his duties as his wife's guardian, most notably by denying his disabled wife basic medical care as part of a malpractice settlement award he received.

However, of all Michael's offensive actions against his wife, what I deem most suspicious was his decision to have Terri cremated immediately upon her demise. In all the documentation on this case, there is not a single account of Terri Schiavo having ever expressed a desire to be cremated. Michael's excuse is to say that she wouldn't want a standard burial because she "doesn't like bugs." I'm not buying. The likely reason is that Michael has something to hide -- like the cause of her numerous bone injuries, perhaps? -- and he doesn't want an autopsy to uncover any incriminating evidence.

So, what really happened on February 25, 1990? We know that Terri fell in her home and sustained serious injuries. We know that Michael Schiavo, who was trained in CPR, oddly did not administer CPR to his wife. We know for the past fifteen years his only mission has been to deny any rehabilitation for Terri.

Dr. Carole Lieberman observed, "If Terri were to be allowed to die, as Michael has been desperately struggling to achieve for years, it could help him escape detection. This would be a grave miscarriage of justice."

[robertpaulsen]

"Board certified radiologist Dr. Walker read the scan in 1991 and interpreted the results as abnormal"

Uh-huh. And two other physicians disputed his findings. You do realize the Schindlers did not raise this issue until they filed a November 2002 emergency motion.

Why are you even bringing this up? You know as well as I that the autopsy showed that Terri wasn't beaten or abused.

[msnimje]

No, I personally do not have proof but friends of hers said it. Do you personally have proof he did not?
If you are willing to believe hearsay given by Michael Schiavo, why not hearsay given by Terri's friends and family?

It is interesting that you are so passionate in your support of a man who by all accounts (including his own admission) was not a good husband and accused of physically abusing his wife.

Morality appears to be even more awkward for you than American Slang is for me.

[msnimje]

Also, I am curious why you have to use sarcasm and demeaning language with people who believe Michael Schiavo is responsible for his wife's demise?
Why is that position deserving of your contempt and why is it less valid than your position?

[robertpaulsen]

"Do you personally have proof he did not?"

Other than the autopsy report that says she was not beaten or abused, no.

"but friends of hers said it."

They did? They testified in court, under oath, under penalty of perjury that Terri was beaten by Michael? Certainly if they were her friends they would have done that for her, yes? Certainly when Terri's parents were trying to obtain custody of her care the friends would have testified, right?

Where can I read her friends' testimony?

[robertpaulsen]

"Also, I am curious why you have to use sarcasm and demeaning language with people who believe Michael Schiavo is responsible for his wife's demise?"

Because that's the limit of what this forum will allow me to say.

[WasDougsLamb]

Let me rephrase it for then to make it easier for you to understand what I meant..

***The DECENT part of America hates him for what he did.***

If that statement doesn't pertain to you, then move on.

[robertpaulsen]

Why would decent people hate a husband for fulfilling his wife's wish? I pray my wife would have the courage to do that for me.

Now, I can understand where nosy, busybody, right-to-life fanatics might not like him. But decent people? Nahhhhh.

[billbears]

The religious right had turned Terri into a symbolic beachhead

I really do wish the media would not use this term. Those that advocated unconstitutional actions to 'save' Terri were neither 'religious' or 'right'. They were self centered publicity seeking statists who did not understand the separation of powers (or rather didn't care in their never ending quest to pander for votes) and the limitations the Framers had intended when writing the Constitution (namely the 10th Amendment)

[WasDougsLamb]

Thanks for sharing your opinion with the thread. Have a great day.

[blueriver]

They were self centered publicity seeking statists who did not understand the separation of powers (or rather didn't care in their never ending quest to pander for votes) and the limitations the Framers had intended when writing the Constitution (namely the 10th Amendment)

While it is possible that they did this only for votes, which I tend to agree with you on that point given that they put no real meat and potatoes into the legislation they wrote I do not see your point with respect to the framers intent. The main fear the framers had was an out of control judiciary that ruled the country. Do you think the framers thought the judiciary should not be balanced by another branch of the government?

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

I recall something about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, being in the constitution. If the judiciary in this country started making judgments on who should live and who should die would it not be within the realm of the legislature to protect the citizens from such abuse?

[billbears]

I recall something about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, being in the constitution.

Interesting. I don't recall a damn thing about pursuit of happiness being in the Constitution. And the 5th Amendment was intended to apply only to the national government. I also don't recall, prior to the early 1900s, that the Bill of Rights applied to the separate and sovereign states. Because they didn't. One side effect of the progressive movement was to 'incorporate' the Bill of Rights to the states. Good to see so many 'conservatives' are now embracing progressives to forward their agenda. So much for returning to the ideals held by the Framers.

[Antoninus]

Walking t*rd alert.

[colorado tanker]

Why do I have this suspicion the "Terri PAC" is going to need a well-paid executive director?? A liberal and his money are soon parted!

[blueriver]

The Declaration of Independence

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed, --

[billbears]

The Declaration of Independence

Contrary to the yankee warped view of history, the Declaration of Independence does not, will not, and never did hold any legal value. It was a document, well written by a great man BTW, reiterating the American colonies reasons for secession. Nothing else.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Hasn't someone ordered Michael to be starved to death?

Didn't he say that's what he wanted?