There’s been a lot of “spin” around the condition that Terri Schiavo is actually in and whether she could be rehabilitated. I think Fox News clarified matters when Sean Hannity interviewed a doctor who was nominated for a Nobel Prize in 1999 for his work on patients like Terri Schiavo. Take a look:
HANNITY: You were nominated for a Nobel Prize (search) in medicine?
HAMMESFAHR: Yes.
HANNITY: In 1999? For your work...
HAMMESFAHR: ... in patients like Terri. For brain injury and stroke patients. We discovered how you get these people better, and we did it for 10 years with Medicare. We got evaluated by the state of Florida and we first discovered a technique that works in people like Terri.
HANNITY: This is what I want to talk about. You have spent, unlike Robert Wexler, who was commenting on medical issues this weekend, you spent how many hours with Terri?
HAMMESFAHR: I spent about 10 hours with Terri across three separate occasions, and I spent a lot of time with videotapes, the medical record which is in boxes and boxes and boxes. for about a year. And of course, you know, I spending time interviewing the family and people who actually have seen her. So I've spent a lot of time with her.
HANNITY: Do you believe she is aware, conscious and responsive?
HAMMESFAHR: Terri is completely aware and conscious and responsive. She is like a child with cerebral palsy. We have kids in the Pinellas County school system every day that are much worse than her, that we're educating.
HANNITY: Doctor, wait a minute. I've got to get this straight here.
You were nominated to get a Nobel Peace Prize in this very work. Are you saying that this woman could be rehabilitated?
HAMMESFAHR: Absolutely.
HANNITY: Could she talk one day?
HAMMESFAHR: Yes.
HANNITY: Then how is it possible we're in this position if you have examined her, you were up for a Nobel Prize. I -- this is mind boggling to me.
HAMMESFAHR: I don't understand it myself. You know, this is a -- this is a case of a terrible error that's happened and it's a grievous case.
You know, what struck me about Congress, in the last couple of days is that there we have physicians who examined the videotapes, examined the same evidence I had, examined my records, my evaluation of her, stepped forward and said, this is not a person in a coma. This is not a person in PVS (a persistent vegetative state). We have to stop this.
HANNITY: All right.
HAMMESFAHR: It just goes to show, you do not want your medical care delivered by a judge.
HANNITY: Well, this is what I want to understand. This is your area of expertise that got you nominated for one of the most prestigious awards in medicine, the Nobel Prize.
And you're saying after a thorough examination of 10 hours total with her, and an examination of records and an examination of records and an examination of tapes regarding her, that she could be rehabilitated. What about all of these other people that have said that that's not possible, how can we have disparaging?
HANNITY: It's not all of these other people. There's four people on the other side, who say she can't be rehabilitated. All were paid individuals. Three by George Felos...
HANNITY: ...and you're not paid?
HAMMESFAHR: I was not paid. Now, if you look at the people who are on Terri's side and stepped forward, at last count, two weeks ago, 33 M.D.s, brain injury specialists from around the country, places like UCLA, Tulane, LSU, Boston University --Thirty-three physicians has stepped forward to say that this person can be rehabilitated. She's not in PVS, not in a coma. And the -- Judge Greer ignored this.
This is scary, folks. A judge has ordered this woman starved and ignored some of the evidence. I’ve been thinking about the oddities of this case and I thought I would point out a few:
- It would be “cruel and unusual punishment” to starve a mass murderer to death, but this innocent woman gets exactly that.
- Kevorkian is sitting in prison right now for helping people commit suicide, but Michael Schiavo has somehow gotten a court to order his wife be murdered (convenient, since he’s been living with another woman for years).
- It’s ironic that Michael Schiavo didn’t “remember” his wife’s desire to die until after he was awarded the $1.3 million settlement and after he met his new “fiance” (can you have a fiancé if you’re already married and not Mormon?)
- The Democratic Party just can’t help being Democrats. It seems like they get every single moral issue exactly wrong. How can that be possible? Even a blind dog finds water every now and then.
- Her husband was awarded over $1 million in order to help rehabilitate her; he’s never given her any of the rehabilitation treatments, but decided she needs to die. And a judge agreed.
- Judges now have the power to starve you to death, even if you (a) aren’t dying, (b) are able to be rehabilitated according to experts, and (c) are no longer the only person your spouse pretends to be married to. What we have here is a theocracy, one that adheres to the Culture of Death and the sacraments of abortion, contraception, divorce, homosexuality and euthanasia. What’s next?
- A contract in Florida isn’t valid for anything worth more than $500. But a couple of people with suspicious motives can testify that they overheard you say you wanted to die and you’re toast. I’m thinking the elderly should think twice about retirement destinations.
What a moral disaster! Furthermore, this signifies the depths to which our morality has fallen. May God forgive us.
God bless,
Jay
Dudes,
Great blog, but change the color. It's gay!
Mo
As far as I can tell, that doctor is no more of a Nobel nominee than I am.
Really, jpe? How many people have nominated you for a Nobel prize?
I understand the issue, he was nominated just not by the appropriate individual. However, it's still important to note that (a) he has helped people in worse condition, and (b) 33 doctors agreed that Terri Schiavo could be rehabilitated and only 3 have disagreed. But the judge decided (he apparently is Godlike in power) to listen to the 3 and not to the 33.
God bless,
Jay
Micheal needs to remember the vow he has said to wife Terri ( to love her either in sickness or in health). It not like she can not think or feel she just can not eat,drink, or take care of herself. If he loved her like he says he love her than he can love her until god decides to take her home, not when he wants her to go.
The only reason why he wont allow the divorce between Terri and hisself is because he will not have the money.
A husband like Micheal, who needs enemies.
If she can be rehabilitated, why hasn't any one been working on it? This is a very sad case, very scary.
Actually Jay...I myself WOULD nominate JPE for a Nobel prize.
And you for the retard of the year award.
If you are so gung ho about saving people's lives shouldnt you get your lazy ass off the internet and go to Ethiopia or somethng and start feeding the THOUSAANDs that die there.
Whatever. Evrybody likes to be on sensationalism bus, right Jay?
Sally,
In other words, "just let Terri die because other people are dying elsewhere," right?
Sensationalism? This is just me believing that life has value and a husband shouldn't be able to starve his wife to death no matter what disability she has.
Please pay attention to the conversation, Sally, it isn't that difficult. I agree that the doctor wasn't nominated normally (that came out after most post), however he was nominated by a US Senator. Are you a US Senator, Sally? And he still has treated and rehabilitated patients in worse condition than Terri Schiavo. I'm sorry you don't like it.
God bless,
Jay
Actually, MORMONS do not get involved with polygamy anymore you're about a century behind the times..but as for the others things you have said I totally agree
i think mostly my name says it all...it was a good blog and everything...and i agree with you they should have saved her and its bullsh&*t that they didnt...but thats life..welcome to it
No matter what side of the fence you are riding on the issue...I do believe that the true problem arises in the simple fact that her "legal guardian" whom is appointed by the state to speak on Terri's behalf and whos intent is sopposed to be souly in the best interst of Terri is her "legal husband" whom is living a parallel life with another woman whom which he has concieved 2 childern. Based on those simple facts I do not see how anyone, including a judge could possibly determine his intent. If we are not sure of his true intentions...how and why could he have been appointed her guardian. How do the laws of adultery not apply to him...why could the Schindlers lawyers address the issue of their daughter and keeping her "alive" by another avenue...such as pushing the envelope of the laws he ahs broken in the state of Florida. Most people today do not seek out the laws of adultery and fornication out of wedlock...to behonest there a minor fine and thing of tht nature which apply...but it would still address the issue that the way he had been living in not only immoral but also against the law of the state in which he lives. Why?? Could they not have made a stink with small things such as that...make it agonizing for him...and show the court that he has to have some selfish intent to continue living legally on paper as her husband...yet in actions he is living with and for another woman and th childen they share together. I believe a simple question proves the situation...If Terry were to fully recover today,yesterday,last week...how long would Micheal and Terry stay married? How long would he be her legal husband? Would he not legally divorce his wife Terry and marry his mistress and live hapily ever after with the childern he created while she lay in the state she has for the past 15 years? Would he be her guardian...the one making all the decisions for her...the decisions he has made for himself has made it clear...clearly not. Why could the Schindlers lawyers based on his living arrangements his commitment to another woman and their childern have his rights to Terry stripped away due to the lack of evidence that he has another family he has created to be loyal onto them. How could you possibly be "loyal" to one woman whom is your "wife" and also be loyal to your girlfriend who has concieved 2 kids with you. How could you possibly say you would not be bias...whos needs are more important? How could the judges have not seen the conflice of interest. Also you have one man..one so called "husband" saying remove the feeding tube and her whole "family" multiple members striving to keep her fed. One man whos intent is truly unclear...a family whos intent is life.