Terri Schindler Schiavo
December 3, 1963 – March 31, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: March 31, 2005
CONTACT: J.C. Willke, MD, President
Life Issues Institute
1821 W. Galbraith Rd.
Cincinnati OH, 45239
513. 729.3600
Terri is dead. May she rest in peace, but should she have been killed?
The manner of her slow starvation death was cruel. If this had been done to a dog in Florida, the owner would have been jailed for cruelty to animals.
As a bedside physician, I have attended many dying patients in my 40 years of practice. Admittedly, I was not at her bedside but I have received a continuing stream of reports from medical and other people who have attended her, all of which lead me to seriously question the diagnosis of Persistent Vegetative State.
Clearly she reacted to her mother’s presence, voice and touch. This was specifically so to her father’s kiss when she’d make a face and turn her head.
The news media constantly repeated that her brain damage was from oxygen deprivation (true), but from a potassium imbalance, due to an eating disorder??? Who was the supreme authority that made this one up? Was there proof?
Creditable witnesses have stated that she came to work with multiple bruise marks. She told girl friends she was going to file for divorce. Then suddenly, she was in a semi-coma from an “eating disorder.” Were x-rays taken?
Isn’t it strange that her husband only remembered that she would not want artificially administered food and water after the malpractice insurance settlement, seven years later?
And, what of the comments made by him to the nursing personnel. Such as, “Has the b—- died yet?” Was all of this true?
What of her reaction when told the tube was to be removed when she vocalized, “I iiiii .Waaaaa”, which was clearly in direct response to this statement.
With the insurance money almost gone, her husband was offered one million dollars if he would turn over custody to her parents. With the loss of any financial incentive to him for her dying, this raises questions as to this adulterous husband’s firm decisions to get her dead and cremated.
From a distance we cannot prove any of the above nor do we mean to, nor can we make specific accusations. What we can do is to ask the obvious question. Why did he not surrender custody and turn her care over to loved ones who certainly would have hospitalized her, done thorough examinations and seen to future care? What was his motive?
The bottom line here relates to judges. Apparently, they ruled on cold legalistic terms. But, and central to the case and future cases is this; can unelected, arrogant judges claim to have power over state and national elected legislators, over a governor and the US president? Something here is seriously out of wack. We desperately need a whole set of new judges who will stop making new laws and return the judiciary to its proper state, subordinate to the will of the people.
J. C. Willke, MD
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