Posted on 03/23/2005 6:07:27 PM PST by ambrose
Posted on Wed, Mar. 23, 2005
Neurologists see little sign of activity in Schiavo's brain
BY BOB LAMENDOLA
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - (KRT) - Scans of Terri Schiavo's brain show that the great majority of her gray matter where thinking and feeling occur has died off and been replaced by watery fluid, with no chance of growing back, neurologists said.
About 70 to 90 percent of Schiavo's upper brain is gone, and there's also damage to her lower brain that controls instinctive functions like breathing and swallowing, said three Florida neurologists who viewed 12 of her CT "computed tomography" X-ray scans Tuesday and Wednesday.
"This is as severe brain damage as I've ever seen," said Dr. Leon Prockop, a professor and former chairman of neurology at the University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa, upon viewing the scans.
(Excerpt) Read more at grandforks.com ...
"Or, even better, we can starve her to death, because we wouldn't want to live like that, and in the end, that's all that matters, right? It's all about what we want, the rights of others and the sanctity of life be damned."
I believe the courts have decided that was Terri's wish. Why are YOU fighting it?
Is that why your grandmother came out and said no one should ever have to die like that?
WHAT did these scans look like when she WAS receiving therapy and stimulation??? (BEFORE ms got that $$$ settlement?)
HOW OLD are these scans that 'they' are looking at????
IF her instinctive brain functions ARE SO DAMAGED, then HOW do these 'experts' explain away the FACT that she can BREATHE on her own, and can swallow her own 'spit'????
March 23, 2005 Affidavit:
A Neurologist from the state of Florida William Polk Cheshire, Jr. MD
-snip-
..."Based on the evidence, I believe that, within a reasonable degree of medical certainty, there is a greater likelihood that Terri is in a minimally conscious state than a persistent vegetative state. This distinction makes a enormous difference in making ethical decisions on Terri's behalf. If Terri is sufficiently aware of her surroundings that she can feel pleasure and suffer; if she is capable of understanding to some degree how she is being treated, then in my judgment it would be wrong to bring about her death by withdrawing food and water."
I don't know how peaceful andcalm it was. Don't attack me for my decisions. lucky for me I didn't see him when he was dying I said goodbye before that, and for the record I am my fathers daughter, not my mothers, so don't antagonize me. If I didn't agrre with you all would I be on this site?
An MRI uses "shifts" in magnetic polarity. Every substance "ie tissue" has different polarity...that is how the picture is generated.
What about stem cell research?
I am not a doctor, but the doctors who are sharing their views on that web site are saying it was hydrocephalus in the mid'90's and this condition may not be her current condition. Again, I'm not a doctor.
What's "called autonomy"? "It's called autonomy"? That's barely an actual sentence. Is that the actual, entire thought you wanted to express to me? How on earth does it relate to my post to you?
If you cannot express yourself better I'm afraid you'll be in danger of declared to be lacking in "autonomy" and, therefore, killable.
More than 15 other doctors have disagreed.
I mean my mothers decions sorry sometimes I think ahead of the words I'm typing and miss a word to keep up with you all.
These scans were taken in 1996.
If she has 70-90% of her upper brain gone, then she has 10-30% of the upper brain that is NOT gone.
I thought she had to have ALL of her cerebral cortex (upper brain) gone to be diagnosed in a PVS.
Also, the doctors acknowledge that Terri has not had the tests that would determine the FUNCTIONING of the cerebral cortex.
So how can they say she is in a PVS if they don't know how the 10-30% of the cerebral cortex is functioning?
You're right, good point guys.
It's really more like a long, slow, drawn-out murder than a rushed one.
Theresa and Michael moved to Florida in 1986 and were followed shortly thereafter by Theresa's parents and siblings. Theresa worked for the Prudential Life Insurance Company and Michael was a restaurant manager.
About three years later, without the apparent knowledge of her parents, Theresa and Michael sought assistance in becoming pregnant through an obstetrician who specialized in fertility services. For over a year, Theresa and Michael received fertility services and counseling in order to enhance their strongly held desire to have a child. By this time, Theresa's weight had dropped even further, to 110 pounds. She was very proud of her fabulous figure and her stunning appearance, wearing bikini bathing suits for the first time and taking great pride in her improved good looks. Testimony and photographs bare witness to these facts.
On the tragic early morning of 25 February 1990, Theresa collapsed in the hallway of her apartment, waking Michael, who called Theresa's family and 911. The lives of Theresa, Michael and the Schindlers were to change forever.
Theresa suffered a cardiac arrest. During the several minutes it took for paramedics to arrive, Theresa experienced loss of oxygen to the brain, or anoxia, for a period sufficiently long to cause permanent loss of brain function. Despite heroic efforts to resuscitate, Theresa remained unconscious and slipped into a coma. She was intubated, ventilated and trached, meaning that she was given life saving medical technological interventions, without which she surely would have died that day.
The cause of the cardiac arrest was adduced to a dramatically reduced potassium level in Theresa's body. Sodium and potassium maintain a vital, chemical balance in the human body that helps define the electrolyte levels. The cause of the imbalance was not clearly identified, but may be linked, in theory, to her drinking 10-15 glasses of iced tea each day. While no formal proof emerged, the medical records note that the combination of aggressive weight loss, diet control and excessive hydration raised questions about Theresa suffering from Bulimia, an eating disorder, more common among women than men, in which purging through vomiting, laxatives and other methods of diet control becomes obsessive.
Theresa spent two and a half months as an inpatient at Humana Northside Hospital, eventually emerging from her coma state, but not recovering consciousness. On 12 May 1990, following extensive testing, therapy and observation, she was discharged to the College Park skilled care and rehabilitation facility. Forty-nine days later, she was transferred again to Bayfront Hospital for additional, aggressive rehabilitation efforts. In September of 1990, she was brought home, but following only three weeks, she was returned to the College Park facility because the "family was overwhelmed by Terry's care needs."
On 18 June 1990, Michael was formally appointed by the court to serve as Theresa's legal guardian, because she was adjudicated to be incompetent by law. Michael's appointment was undisputed by the parties.
The clinical records within the massive case file indicate that Theresa was not responsive to neurological and swallowing tests. She received regular and intense physical, occupational and speech therapies.
Theresa's husband, Michael Schiavo and her mother, Mary Schindler, were virtual partners in their care of and dedication to Theresa. There is no question but that complete trust, mutual caring, explicit love and a common goal of caring for and rehabilitating Theresa, were the shared intentions of Michael Shiavo and the Schindlers.
In late Autumn of 1990, following months of therapy and testing, formal diagnoses of persistent vegetative state with no evidence of improvement, Michael took Theresa to California, where she received an experimental thalamic stimulator implant in her brain. Michael remained in California caring for Theresa during a period of several months and returned to Florida with her in January of 1991. Theresa was transferred to the Mediplex Rehabilitation Center in Brandon, where she received 24 hour skilled care, physical, occupational, speech and recreational therapies.
Despite aggressive therapies, physician and other clinical assessments consistently revealed no functional abilities, only reflexive, rather than cognitive movements, random eye opening, no communication system and little change cognitively or functionally.
On 19 July 1991 Theresa was transferred to the Sable Palms skilled care facility. Periodic neurological exams, regular and aggressive physical, occupational and speech therapy continued through 1994.
Michael Schiavo, on Theresa's and his own behalf, initiated a medical malpractice lawsuit against the obstetrician who had been overseeing Theresa's fertility therapy. In 1993, the malpractice action concluded in Theresa and Michael's favor, resulting in a two element award: More than $750,000 in economic damages for Theresa, and a loss of consortium award (non economic damages) of $300,000 to Michael. The court established a trust fund for Theresa's financial award, with SouthTrust Bank as the Guardian and an independent trustee. This fund was meticulously managed and accounted for and Michael Schiavo had no control over its use. There is no evidence in the record of the trust administration documents of any mismanagement of Theresa's estate, and the records on this matter are excellently maintained.
After the malpractice case judgment, evidence of disaffection between the Schindlers and Michael Schiavo openly emerged for the first time. The Schindlers petitioned the court to remove Michael as Guardian. They made allegations that he was not caring for Theresa, and that his behavior was disruptive to Theresa's treatment and condition.
Proceedings concluded that there was no basis for the removal of Michael as Guardian Further, it was determined that he had been very aggressive and attentive in his care of Theresa. His demanding concern for her well being and meticulous care by the nursing home earned him the characterization by the administrator as "a nursing home administrator's nightmare". It is notable that through more than thirteen years after Theresa's collapse, she has never had a bedsore.
A REPORT TO GOVERNOR JEB BUSH
AND THE 6TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN THE MATTER OF THERESA MARIE SCHIAVO
Pursuant to the requirements of H.B. 35-E (Chapter 2003-418, Laws of Florida) and the Order of the Hon. David Demers, Chief Judge, Florida 6th Judicial Circuit regarding the appointment and duties of a Guardian Ad Litem in the matter of Theresa Marie Schiavo, Incapacitated.
Respectfully Submitted
Jay Wolfson, DrPH, JD, Guardian Ad Litem for Theresa Marie Schiavo
1 December 2003
My desicion is informed. My wife understands very clearly that I do not want to be maintained as a vengetable/invalid, no matter how misplaced her need to hang on is.
More specifically, a functional MRI (fMRI).
And I know of at least 31 doctors (as of last week) that disagree with those 15 doctors.
That's a far cry from 15 years down the road........
Cool thanks
I'm sorry you can't comprehend a simple sentence, that's unfortunate.
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