Terry Schiavo — Page 11

Schiavo not likely to experience a painful death, neurologists say

Thu Mar 24, 6:55 AM ET

By Kathleen Fackelmann, USA TODAY

Terri Schiavo has had no food or water since Friday, which has led her parents and their supporters to complain that she could be experiencing a painful death. But neurologists on Wednesday said that based on court findings of her condition, her body gradually will shut down in a painless process that will lead to death.

The Florida woman suffered serious brain damage after her heart stopped in 1990, and she has been the focus of a protracted legal battle that reached a zenith on Friday, when her feeding tube was removed by court order.

In a process that could take days, weeks or longer, the lack of food and water will cause chemical imbalances that eventually will shut down major organs such as the kidneys, and that ultimately will trigger heart abnormalities or other fatal problems, says Roger Albin, a neurologist at the University of Michigan.

Florida courts have ruled that Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state, a condition caused by extensive damage to the cortex and other parts of the brain that are responsible for consciousness, higher thinking, memory or even sensations such as pain, hunger and thirst.

"She's not experiencing hunger - she's not experiencing anything," Albin says.

Patients in such a state don't get better because the body is unable to repair such a massive injury to the brain, says James Bernat, a neurologist at the Dartmouth Medical School in Hanover, N.H.

"If you're in a state like this for three months or more, you're chance of recovery is zero," Albin says.

That point is disputed by Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, who are battling Terri's husband, Michael Schiavo, to get Terri's feeding tube reinserted.

The condition is confusing because patients in a persistent vegetative state still have the use of a primitive part of the brain, the stem. The brain stem allows them to go through sleep-wake cycles, keeps them breathing and produces facial expressions that can make it look as though they are aware of their surroundings, Albin says.

But those movements are merely reflexes, says Bruce Sigsbee, a neurologist in Rockport, Maine.

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Jeb is now trying to both father and husband:


Judge Greer on Thursday denied the state petition to put Schiavo into state custody but is now considering a petition by the DCF. It says a neurologist who examined Schiavo's medical records found she was "most likely in a state of minimal consciousness" rather than the persistent vegetative state previous doctors have diagnosed.

BWS - that caroon is feaky.

Updated On: 3/24/05 at 12:41 PM

Papa began his post on the last page by analyzing the situation according to "the congressional gop's logic," and then goes on to reference the viewpoint of the American public (at least according to what history has shown us.) Nowhere does he say whether or not he agrees with them or not - it is simply an analysis of the situation as a whole. Simply because we know Papa identifies as a Republican doesn't mean that every viewpoint expressed by them or attributed to them is something he's in agreeance with - his views on gays have made that clear. Attacking him as an individual rather than addressing the very salient points he makes serves no purpose but to further divide and make any rational discussion impossible.

Updated On: 3/24/05 at 12:47 PM

I think (and I might regret saying this) that if that's what the husband wants, that's what they do. Who are the rest of the country (protestors, insane pro-life people) to protest something that has nothing to do with them? Just mind your own damn business!!! I agree that it's a sad thing, but if they kept her alive she would just be a vegetable as the medical bills get even higher and higher. She would live a miserable, pointless existance so it's in her interest to just pull the plug. I was watching it on the news before, and my dad just said "If I ever get like that, pull the plug IMMEDIATELY." And I totally agree - why let someone live like that? It's torture and degrading.

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I find it most illuminating that the family has said they would not respect her wishes, were she to have had a living will, to end her life.
By the way, it is possible for a family to contest a living will...so, had Terri given Michael the power, via a living will, to remove the feeding tube, the shame crap would be happening, although it's possible our administration would have seen their way clear of getting involved.
Oh, who am I kidding? They'd be blaring on about God's will yet.

I now blame the parents for everything. It is clear they are at fault, openly saying they would not respect their own daughter's wishes.

I pray for Terri. However, I hear in heaven they've arranged for a penthouse suite.

Posts for Jesus - who are you?

PJ - it does sound chilling.

I'm not sure.

Updated On: 3/24/05 at 02:04 PM

Dg,
been watching the news? Been reading people like Ann Coulter? They've been labelling her husband a murderer and evil and an adulterer and god knows what else in an attempt to discredit him and his attempts to "murder" his wife so he can go live in sin legally.
Meanwhile, the parents look like saints. Something is missing from the picture of the parents and I, for one, think it should be brought up and discussed since they fought so hard for this case to be put before the public eye.
Leave no stone unturned...

Updated On: 3/24/05 at 02:09 PM

What about the sick freaks who condemn the husband for "abuse" that never occurred? Accused by "witnessess" whose testimony has been thrown out by courts for being unreliable?

The sick freaks are the people who turned this woman's death into a circus.

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Nina,
I'm not really truly condemning anyone here. However, having grown up IN the Christian-Right-Army-of-Go-and-Everyone-Else-is-a-Sinner-Burning-in-Hell-so-nyah, I must say I have come to truly resent how they've cornered the market on what God believes and does not believe and will cow anyone who doesn't fall into line with their own beliefs (which come right out of the King James Bible, NOT AT ALL a product of its times).

Are you sure you don't have him blocked, Costume Mistress?