The Schiavo Case: Are Mass Media To Blame?

Science Daily ^ | August 8, 2008 | Staff

[fightinJAG]

In 1990, Theresa Schiavo, an American citizen, had a cardiac arrest that caused irreversible brain damage which led to a persistent vegetative state diagnosis. A few years later, this diagnosis became a source of conflict over the interruption of artificial nutrition.

The "Schiavo Case" was widely discussed from a medical, ethical and social standpoint in the United States and elsewhere. . . . [A]n article to be published in the September 23 issue of Neurology, . . . examines the media coverage featuring this famous case.

The study reviewed American daily newspapers that were most prolific about this story: the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Tampa Tribune and the St. Petersburg Times. A total of 1 141 articles and over 400 letters to the editor were analyzed. Never before had the media coverage of such a clinical case been studied so extensively. The accuracy and the nature of the statements on Schiavo's neurological condition, her behaviours, her behavioural repertoire, her prognosis and the withdrawal of treatment were examined.

"In the course of our research, we were surprised by the amount of medical inaccuracies . . . ," said Dr. Racine. Some journalists even wrote about Mrs. Schiavo's reactions to specific words or expressions supposedly showing that she was conscious."

[snip]

Only 1% of the articles examined gave a definition of the "persistent vegetative state," an essential concept to understand the issues at stake.

[snip]

Despite the fact that Terri Schiavo's medical condition did not allow any reasonable hope of recovery, a fifth of all articles (21%) contained statements according to which her condition would improve. "Our observations show that the press capitalized on the controversy to a large extent, and selling copies mattered more than delivering scientific information. Media coverage sustained myths and false hopes," explains Éric Racine.

[Tennessee Nana]

Poor Terry...

Dead, not because of her medical condition...

But because she was an inconvience to her selfish “husband”

[Mr. Peabody]

Too bad the Ambien stories came out after she died.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

Bull. The inaccuracies were mostly the other way, saying she was brain dead, on life support, on some plug one could pull, victim of heart attack, a vegetable, already dead, had provable last wishes regarding her condition and treatment, and was euphoric and beautiful while being starved and dehydrated to death.
That’s just off the top of my head. I could go on. Loving husband...selfish parents...dragging the govt into a family matter...couldn’t swallow...

I have never, never seen so many lies repeated so often in a news story. All serving to kill, and kill most cruelly, an innocent disabled woman.

[NoKoolAidforMe]

If someone did to their dog what Michael Schiavo did to his wife, they’d be vilified and imprisoned. Somehow, Terri was not afforded the same justice.

[Dog Gone]

I can't believe we're still talking about this at this forum, especially after the autopsy which was not controversial.

We can keep dead people alive artificially, so they're not actually dead. Except they don't know that.

The Terry thing was an important struggle, not only for right for life, but for rational medical treatment.

I would have chosen a third way, but Terry was gone in any event.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

Ping wagglebee, 8mmM, fv

[WKL815]

I just re-did my MPOA with her in mind.

[Rebelbase]

The media are certainly keeping her alive.

[TChad]

Only 1% of the articles examined gave a definition of the "persistent vegetative state,"

Yeah, that was the problem. Not enough definitions of medical terminology. A few more definitions and the world would have been delighted to see Terri starved and dehydrated to death.

However, Internet and the media cannot replace official sources, be they medical, legal or political.

So there was absolutely no doubt about the accuracy of her diagnosis, since it came from an "official source."

What drivel.

[lafroste]

I just re-did my MPOA with her in mind.

I did as well. Then, the other day, I had a health care person ask if I had a living will. I answered that I did and it directed that I be kept alive no matter what, cost was no object, even to the bankruptcy of all. She stared at me like I was nuts. I explained that I had taken this action because of Terry Shiavo and she promptly shut up.

[billmor]

Remember the fellow who came to after being in a coma for 17 years..?..This was in the papers after Terri had died...

There is no end to the miracles that God can accomplish..That is why we should never lose faith and hope that a person can come out of a coma, or be cured of an ‘incurable’ illness...

[TigersEye]

The author is either extremely ignorant or a shill for the death cult.

[kcvl]

Eric Racine Ph.D.

"I propose two moral tests to approach the ethics of enhancement based on two complementing concepts of morality: moral acceptability and moral praiseworthiness. The moral acceptability test requires that enhancement technology fulfill scientific (e.g., risk assessment), ethical (e.g., consent), social (e.g., health coverage) and regulatory criteria (e.g., approval mechanisms). The moral praiseworthiness test entails considerations on the broader desirability of enhancement. Answers to the moral tests are discussed according to three moral-political philosophies: conservatism (morally unacceptable/morally praiseworthy), liberalism (morally acceptable/morally praiseworthy; and moderate liberalism (potentially morally acceptable/debatable praiseworthiness). I argue for moderate liberalism and discuss its implications for researcher responsibility and public policy."

[backhoe]

Back when no one was interested in it, I covered Terri's case here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1003657/posts
The war for Terri Schiavo's life- some links
Various FR links | 10-18-03 | The Heavy Equipment Guy

Then, when it came to a head, I shifted in to high gear and live-blogged it here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1372897/posts
Useless Eaters vs The Death Cult
various FR links & stories | 03-29-05 | the heavy equipment guy

I have been on both sides of many divisive issues, but I've never seen one worse- people I formerly regarded as allies, if not friends, stalked me across the 'net over disagreements about this.

Nonetheless, I stand by the position I took, and still maintain:

"Terri was killed for money,
and because
she was
an inconvenient woman..."

Not to mention:

"You're Next..." Just keep that concept firmly in mind when you remember Terri.

[8mmMauser]

Thanks for the ping.

Pinged from Terri Dailies

8mm

[BykrBayb]

I can't believe we're still talking about this at this forum, especially after the autopsy which was not controversial.

We can keep dead people alive artificially, so they're not actually dead. Except they don't know that.

The Terry thing was an important struggle, not only for right for life, but for rational medical treatment.

I would have chosen a third way, but Terry was gone in any event.

Where did Terry go, and how did he come back?

Oh wait, did you mean Terry Wallis (with a "y") or Terri Schiavo? Do you see the difference in spelling between the man's name Terry and the woman's name Terri? There are other differences as well, but I don't wish to confuse you with more information than you can process.

Terri's condition was not unique. The desire to kill her was not unique. The success in killing her was not unique. Take a look at my profile page for a clue about how common it is to kill cognitively disabled people.

Your science fiction view of the world where dead people wander around not knowing they're dead isn't based in reality. Just as there is a difference between male and female, there is also a difference between dead and alive. I hope I'm not overloading your brain with too many realities in one session. So we'll end today's lesson with those two simple concepts. Again, there is a difference between male and female, and there is a difference between dead and alive. Let us know when you've grasped those concepts, and we'll move forward to another lesson.

Those of you who support killing cognitively disabled people have not stopped talking about it. We're not going to stop talking about it either. Get used to being opposed. As long as you support murder, you will have opposition.

Þ

[trisham]

Those of you who support killing cognitively disabled people have not stopped talking about it. We're not going to stop talking about it either. Get used to being opposed. As long as you support murder, you will have opposition.

********************

Amen, BB. Excellent post.

[Dante3]

BUMP

[Dog Gone]

Oh, wow, I spelled her name wrong.

So shoot me.