The mainstream media is beginning to get the picture, but we have a long way to go.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_disabilitymatters/smith_20050322.html

Pray!

Posted by: AZ at March 22, 2005 8:58 PM

Actually, I'm saying, "Equal protection for the disabled -- save Terri Schiavo's life today!"

Posted by: Mary in LA at March 22, 2005 9:00 PM

FYI

9:05 Eastern

I found out the following on the list of Senators offices above--Talahassee office called were unreachable except for Sentors Alexander and Dawson.

Posted by: Resume Feeding at March 22, 2005 9:06 PM

None of you are medical doctors and have no idea the significance of such a report. I could trip and fall and have a bone scan similiar. Trauma on a report does not mean ABUSE!!!! Do you make every piece of information you see contorted into some reason why you should take away the power of attorney;s rights?? Just because you don't agree doesn't make your opinion the right one. If i decide not to put a peg tube in my husband if he is ill, DON't send my decision to congress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: susan at March 22, 2005 9:43 PM

i agree with susan pull the plug

Posted by: ken at March 22, 2005 9:51 PM

Fine Ken. Maybe you should go pull the plug on Susan and leave us to do what we can to keep involuntary Euthanasia illegal.

Posted by: noisy ghost at March 22, 2005 10:10 PM

The significance of the report is that the alleged cause of Terri's condition according to all "reports" is heart attack. I know many who have had heart attacks. No one had broken bones as a result of them. Take the damn blinders off.

Posted by: CeCe at March 22, 2005 10:27 PM

Does anyone have email addresses. I have only been able to leave messages on a couple of these numbers.

Posted by: CeCe at March 22, 2005 10:28 PM

This won't be a popular post but let the poor girl die. I say this after along with my family having to pull the plug on my brother 12 years ago after a brain aneurism. I feel bad for the family but there hasn't been significant improvement in 15 years? Even if there is a sign of life there, do you think if she could communicate she would want to live that way....seems to me like it would be a prison to be trapped in your body. Finally, I'm not going to say everyone that is for her living isn't doing a good deed but once they decide she will live where will you be? Not at the hospital helping turn her to prevent bed sores...not donating money to keep her alive and in a room. God can and will take care of her, let her go to a better place. Best wishes to her family on a decision that is very tough.

Posted by: randy at March 22, 2005 10:29 PM

Susan: I AM a physician and a young healthy non-obese woman (i.e. with no history of osteoporosis or other bone disease)in her 20's wouldn't fracture a hip from merely falling to the ground from a standing position.

Ken: The term "pull the plug" originated from the act of disconnecting the equipment a patient's ventillator (i.e. a life support machine). It requires electricity to operate and to 'pull the plug' refers to disconnecting it from it's power source. She's not on life support. The full definition of brain dead includes a person who is not breathing on their own. Terri is breathing on her own; therefore there is 'no plug'.

Posted by: Anna Nordin at March 22, 2005 10:29 PM

Mary Schindler was quoted as saying they only need one more vote in the FL senate. Does anyone here know which 2 senators changed their minds so we can thank them (and continue to influence the right ones)?

Posted by: lori at March 22, 2005 10:41 PM

The fact that we think we can decide anybody's fate is an outrage in and of itself. Why do we think we are GOD to make such a decision? The right to life is between the creator and the person. No one knows what Terri Schiavo wants except for GOD and perhaps that's why she's still here--HE knows she wants to be, what do you think?
I find it much more difficult to believe a husband who has acquired a new family then to believe her own flesh and blood family. Furthermore, when courts are examining witness testimony, #'s matter. There are 4 family members who say she never stated her desires and only 1 who claims (7 years after the "event") she wanted to die. Therefore, the more credible side is the family.
He (Mike-ILL) is far toooooooo concerned about his rights of privacy and the sanctity of marriage -- ME THINKS HE DOTH PROTEST TOO MUCH!! Obviously he's a narcissist with only his own interests at stake. He keeps worrying about HIS rights -- that's not love, LOVE worries about the other's rights!! I doubt the man is capable of love. How can he think these measley little rights compare to the much larger right of LIFE vs. death (granted for every American in our constitution). What an idiot he is! Doesn't he realize he forfeited his rights to be her husband when he set up home with another woman. (I think we can all understand his needs/desires to set up a new home/sex and I don't begrudge him finding a new woman, but I definitely begrudge him keeping a sham marriage up for the sake of controlling her so that her parents can't gain her custody.) His rights should be stripped because he has a conflict of interest. In the business world, this would be considered unethical at best. And some companies would fire him for such a conflict. We should "fire" him from his marriage to Terri and then try him for attempted murder.

Posted by: Honeybear2u2 at March 22, 2005 10:57 PM

Let's see:
THE COURTS HAVE RULED - does anyone remember Dred Scott? THE MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENT has ruled - does anyone remember the Tuskegee Experiment? JUDGE GREER has ruled - does anyone think that to withhold food and water from someone who possibly can eat and drink without the feeding tube is not murder?
And finally - with all that this case entails - money, the husband's adultery, the end of a life, etc. - should not our government and courts rule on the side of justice and mercy and at least open the sealed court records so that it can be ascertined that justice was, and is, truly being done?

Posted by: George The Elder at March 23, 2005 12:04 AM

RE: NIGHTLINE "Life or Death Decisions" Panel Debate 03/22/05, (which I am currently watching)

I am amazed that no one seems to be able to "see the forest for the trees" with regard to the current situation of Terri Schiavo... Beyond the political/legal/medical/ethical/moral questions and issues at hand is ONE SIMPLE UNDENIABLE FACT:
Right or wrong the Florida Court (Judge Greer) determined Terri's "wishes" (that she would not want to 'live like this' with tubes 'keeping her alive' on 'artificial life support'), and the (feeding) tube was ordered to be removed.
BUT... Judge Greer went BEYOND the scope of the original Trial Determination and then further ORDERED that Terri not only have her feeding tube removed but be KILLED via dehydration & starvation by DENYING the Schindler's Motion to be allowed to provide Terri nutrition naturally and orally.
I am appalled by the lack of debate on this point in particular - this seems wholly unconstitutional and illegal.

Fllow-up on the Terri Schiavo "Life or Death Debate".

Do you realize that more than one person has been arrested for approaching the Hospice where Terri is being guarded because they were offering up a cup of water, or a "symbolic" piece of bread?

It in unbelievable that any court in this land would have the authority to block the providing of Food, Air or Water "naturally" to any American citizen (especially one who is neither terminal nor on death row). That is beyond assisted suicide, that is an incontrovertable State ordered Death Sentence... to be carried out (as Judge Greer stated) "forthwith".

Posted by: Raquel at March 23, 2005 12:25 AM

I agree with the people who say it's not the government's business to interfere with the right of a husband (or wife) to make life and death decision on behalf of an wife (or husband) who can no longer make these decisions EXCEPT WHEN: there's a suspicion that the husband may have deliberatedly caused the injury that left the wife compromised OR there is evidence that the husband didn't allow the provision of adequate care OR there's a suspicioun that the husband may have attempted to kill the wife after she became disabled OR there is a doubt about what exact prognosis and diagnosis of the wife actually is OR it wasn't totally clear what the wishes of the wife were OR it is unclear whether the directives of the husband (eg: denial or food and water) were going to cause the wife to experience significant pain.

Posted by: Anna Nordin at March 23, 2005 12:39 AM

Ken and Susan, make your own living wills.

Randy, I am sorry about your brother. I take it that he really was brain-dead. Did he have a flat EEG?

Posted by: Mary in LA at March 23, 2005 12:43 AM

the senators e-mails

bullard.larcenia.web@flsenate.gov, campbell.walter.web@flsenate.gov, dawson.mandy.web@flsenate.gov, alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov, argenziano.nancy.web@flsenate.gov, carlton.lisa.web@flsenate.gov, dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov, lynn.evelyn.web@flsenate.gov, saunders.burt.web@flsenate.gov

Posted by: ertyu at March 23, 2005 2:04 AM

Yes, flatline...he was 19.

Posted by: randy at March 23, 2005 6:17 AM

Would any of you want to live like this ??
Please , just let her go. I pray my family doen't put me throuh this kind of Hell. Don't reinsert Terri's tube!!!

Posted by: Loveta at March 23, 2005 8:15 AM

I agree with randy and susan! Stop twisting things around. TO the person who is a physician, she had an eating d/o which resulted in hypokalemia. Moslt likely she had some osteopenia from her malnutrition, which can result in fractures and orthopedic problems, wouldn;t you know that DOCTOR or are you so blinded you forgot? What does that have to do with todays issues? You believe your biased media and lies. i have researched from good resources, not hearsay.. Hopefully she will be able to leave in peace, not be kept around to lie in a bed the rest of her life with the only thing keeping her here is a man made tube.

Posted by: Kendra at March 23, 2005 11:01 AM

Kendra: Her medical records indicated her bone density was normal. Would you care to share with us what these "good resources" are to which you refer? Perhaps we've already read them and if not, I'd certainly like to. She doesn't need a 'man made tube' to stay alive, as an R.N. testified under oath she had seen Terri eat by mouth. She doesn't have to lie around, she can sit and one of her examining neurologists said she could be taught to walk and communicate.

Many of us are interested in finding the truth and doing the right thing, not maintaining a certain position. You could be of much more value to people like me if you presents credible facts, not speculation, and provide what you feel are credible sources of information we can all exam. Otherwise, you've done little to convince us of your point of view. Or was that not your intention; were you just merely getting out some anger?

Posted by: Anna Nordin at March 23, 2005 11:43 AM

Letter to Senator Argenziano (and other senators). Anyone who agrees with this is welcome to copy, sign and send it as well)

DEAR NANCY: IT IS MEDICALLY POSSIBLE THAT TERRI HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF PROLONGED AGONY RESULTING FROM THE DEHYDRATION AND STARVATION PROCESS IMPOSED ON HER. BECAUSE A) PAIN MEDICATION IS 'MEDICAL TREATMENT' WHICH HAS BEEN DISALLOWED FOR TERRI AND B) PAIN MEDICATION HAS TO BE INJECTED WITH FLUID, SHE'S LIKELY NOT RECEIVING ANY.

TO ALLOW THE CESSATION OF FOOD AND WATER---WHICH IS NOT EVEN MEDICAL TREATMENT---TO A PERSON WHO HAS ANY AMOUNT OF AWARENESS IS CRUEL AND UNUSUAL, YET IS PRACTICED TODAY IN FLORIDA AND THE OTHER STATES.

IT'S TIME WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE NEED FOR A LAW WHICH WOULD PREVENT THIS TYPE OF CRUEL AND UNUSUAL TREATMENT OF A HUMAN BEING.

I STRONGLY BELIEVE A LAW IS URGENTLY NEEDED TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM ERRORS THAT ARE POSSIBLE WHEN MAKING LIFE AND DEATH DECISIONS MADE ON THEIR BEHALF AND ALSO TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM EXPERIENCING THE CONSEQUENCES/IMPLICATIONS OF NOT HAVING FULLY UNDERSTOOD OR BEEN UNDERSTOOD BY OTHERS ABOUT WHAT THEIR QUALIFY OF LIFE WISHES ARE. PEOPLE MAY NOT BE AWARE OF HOW
PAINFUL A DYING EXPERIENCE CAN BE AND IT IS QUESTIONABLE WHETHER THEY WOULD HAVE OPTED FOR THE EXPERIENCE IN FULL WITHOUT PAIN RELIEF. IN ADDITION TO BEING A PLATFORM TO CLEARLY AND UNDISPUTABLE DOCUMENT LIFE AND DEATH/QUALITY OF LIFE WISHES, LIVING WILLS ALSO HAVE A CLAUSE ABOUT SUFFERING AND WHETHER OR THE PERSON IN QUESTION WANTS PAIN RELIEF. TERRI GOT THE WORST OF BOTH POSSIBLE SCENARIOS:

1) HER ORAL STATEMENTS, OF WHICH I'VE HEARD SEVERAL VARIATIONS, WERE SOMEHOW INTERPRETED TO MEAN IT WAS O.K. NOT TO FED HER OR GIVE HER WATER, WHERE SHE MAY HAVE BEEN SIMPLY REFERRING TO NOT BEING ATTACHED TO 'TUBES' AS MEANING LIFE SUPPORT TUBES
(I.E. ATTACHMENT TO A VENTILATOR). BESIDES, SHE'S ALSO BEING DENIED FOOD AND MOUTH BY WATER WHICH SHE IS CAPABLE OF TAKING ACCORDING TO DOCTORS AND NOT ONE OF THE VARIATIONS I HAVE HEARD ABOUT WHAT TERRI SAID HER WISHES WERE HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH NOT EATING OR DRINKING IN A NORMAL FASHION.

2) BUT SHE HAS NOT BEEN GRANTED THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT ABOUT WHETHER IT WAS O.K. WITH HER TO EXPERIENCE PAIN AND SUFFERING, SO JUDGE GREER HAS ERRED ON THE SIDE THAT IT IS O.K. WITH HER TO ENDURE A PAINFUL DEATH.

BUT THE LAW NEEDS TO GO FURTHER. CESSATION OF FOOD AND WATER MUST BE RESTRICTED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE DEEMED BRAIN-DEAD VIA THE SPECIFIC STANDARDS SET FORTH BY THE COMMITTEE OF THE 'HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL TO EXAMINE THE DEFINITION OF BRAIN DEATH' AND THE 'AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NEUROLOGY' WITH ONGOING ADDITIONAL CRITERIA ADDED AS TECHNOLOGY BECOMES AVAILABLE SUCH AS PET SCAN, MRI, CT AND CEREBRAL ANGIOGRAPHY. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD WE BE WITHHOLDING THE FOOD AND WATER OF PATIENTS WHO ARE ONLY BRAIN-DAMAGED BUT NOT BRAIN DEAD. I BELIEVE IN DOING SO, WE'RE AGGRESSIVELY OVERSTEPPING OUR INTERVENTIONARY POWERS. THE LAW MUST INSIST THAT, UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED IN A DOCUMENT SIGNED BY THE PATIENT, THAT IF THEY ENTER A BRAIN-DAMAGED STATE THEY ARE ENTITLED ALL REHABILITATION AND TREATMENTS AVAILABLE TO THEM THAT ARE RECOMMENDED BY HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EXAMINING HER.

NOT ONLY DO WE NEED THIS FOR TERRI, WE NEED IT TO PREVENT PEOPLE LIKE TERRI'S PARENTS FROM DEVASTATION AND FOR ALL THE OTHER
'TERRI'S' IN AMERICA WHO HAVE AND WHO WILL SUFFER SILENTLY THE SAME FATE.

I URGE YOU SENATOR ARGENZIANO; DRAFT SUCH AS BILL IMMEDIATELY.

SINCERELY, DR. ANNA NORDIN

Posted by: Anna Nordin at March 23, 2005 11:48 AM