Changes

was a [[coma]] victim whose plight came to national attention during the [[Bush Administration]]. The legal issues split the country as much as the [[abortion|abortion issue]].

was a [[coma]] victim whose plight came to national attention during the [[Bush Administration]]. The legal issues split the country as much as the [[abortion|abortion issue]].

While on a weight-loss diet, Schiavo consumed too little potassium. On February 25, 1990, Schiavo suffered a cardiac arrest, possibly due to a undiagnosed weight-loss related potassium deficiency. By the time paramedics arrived, Mrs. Schiavo's heart had not pumped for around 10 minutes, doctors found. <ref>With His Wife in Limbo, Husband Can't Move, N.Y. Times, Nov. 2, 2003 §1, at 18.</ref> The lack of blood flow to the brain resulted in a condition diagnosed as a [[persistent vegetative state]]. Her husband and her parents became locked in a lengthy legal battle over whether to keep her alive. Florida Governor [[Jeb Bush]] and his brother [[President Bush]] sided with the parents, who believed their daughter was responsive. Despite a special law passed to prevent her death, the courts finally upheld the Guardianship Court's authorization of Michael Schiavo's decision to terminate her life support on March 18, 2005, and she died of starvation and dehydration within two weeks.

While on a weight-loss diet, Schiavo consumed too little potassium. On February 25, 1990, Schiavo suffered a cardiac arrest, possibly due to a undiagnosed weight-loss related potassium deficiency. By the time paramedics arrived, Mrs. Schiavo's heart had not pumped for around 10 minutes, doctors found.<ref>With His Wife in Limbo, Husband Can't Move, N.Y. Times, Nov. 2, 2003 §1, at 18.</ref> The lack of blood flow to the brain resulted in a condition diagnosed as a [[persistent vegetative state]]. Her husband and her parents became locked in a lengthy legal battle over whether to keep her alive. Florida Governor [[Jeb Bush]] and his brother [[President Bush]] sided with the parents, who believed their daughter was responsive. Despite a special law passed to prevent her death, the courts finally upheld the Guardianship Court's authorization of Michael Schiavo's decision to terminate her life support on March 18, 2005, and she died of starvation and dehydration within two weeks.

==Role of The Husband: Michael Schiavo==

==Role of The Husband: Michael Schiavo==

While still married to Terri, Michael Schiavo [[adultery|started a new family with another woman]], whom he eventually married after Terri's death, while insisting on retaining legal authority over Terri despite the objections of her parents and siblings.<ref>http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/26/Tampabay/She_s_the_other_woman.shtml]</ref> Generally, in the absence of an advanced directive, health care decisions are authorized to be made by surrogates in the following order: (1) the spouse, unless legally separated; (2) an adult child; (3) a parent; or (4) an adult brother or sister. <ref>http://www.uniformlaws.org/shared/docs/health%20care%20decisions/uhcda_final_93.pdf</ref> Michael Schiavo had the legal authority to make the health care decision, but he had to show by clear and convincing evidence that Theresa Schiavo was in a persistent vegetative state and that Theresa would elect to cease life-prolonging procedures if she were competent to make her own decision. <ref>''Bush v. Schiavo'', 885 So. 2d 321 (Fla. 2004).</ref> After ten years in a persistent vegetative state that robbed Theresa Schiavo of most of her cerebrum and all but the most instinctive of neurological functions, Michael Schiavo petitioned the Guardianship Court to authorize the termination of life-prolonging procedures. <ref>''Schiavo I'', 780 So. 2d at 177 (Fla. 2001).</ref>

While still married to Terri, Michael Schiavo [[adultery|started a new family with another woman]], whom he eventually married after Terri's death, while insisting on retaining legal authority over Terri despite the objections of her parents and siblings.<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/26/Tampabay/She_s_the_other_woman.shtml]</ref> Generally, in the absence of an advanced directive, health care decisions are authorized to be made by surrogates in the following order: (1) the spouse, unless legally separated; (2) an adult child; (3) a parent; or (4) an adult brother or sister.<ref>http://www.uniformlaws.org/shared/docs/health%20care%20decisions/uhcda_final_93.pdf</ref> Michael Schiavo had the legal authority to make the health care decision, but he had to show by clear and convincing evidence that Theresa Schiavo was in a persistent vegetative state and that Theresa would elect to cease life-prolonging procedures if she were competent to make her own decision.<ref>''Bush v. Schiavo'', 885 So. 2d 321 (Fla. 2004).</ref> After ten years in a persistent vegetative state that robbed Theresa Schiavo of most of her cerebrum and all but the most instinctive of neurological functions, Michael Schiavo petitioned the Guardianship Court to authorize the termination of life-prolonging procedures.<ref>''Schiavo I'', 780 So. 2d at 177 (Fla. 2001).</ref>

==Legal dispute==

==Legal dispute==

Leading up to Terri's death in 2003, a court ordered the removal of Schiavo's feeding tube. This prompted the Florida legislature to pass '[[Terri's Law]]' in under a week, authorizing the personal involvement of Governor [[Jeb Bush]] to overrule the finding of the court. The governor immediately ordered the reinsertion of the feeding tube. Terri's Law was later ruled unconstitutional by the Florida Supreme Court, finding that state and federal constitutions prohibit the interference of the governor or legislature within a specific judicial case.

Leading up to Terri's death in 2003, a court ordered the removal of Schiavo's feeding tube. This prompted the Florida legislature to pass '[[Terri's Law]]' in under a week, authorizing the personal involvement of Governor [[Jeb Bush]] to overrule the finding of the court. The governor immediately ordered the reinsertion of the feeding tube. Terri's Law was later ruled unconstitutional by the Florida Supreme Court, finding that state and federal constitutions prohibit the interference of the governor or legislature within a specific judicial case.

Neither an act of the Florida legislature nor any federal court reversed the initial decision of the Guardianship Court to authorize Michael Schiavo's decision to cease life-prolonging procedures which ultimately resulted in Terri's death by dehydration. <ref>''Bush v. Schiavo'', 885 So. 2d 321 (Fla. 2004).</ref>

Neither an act of the Florida legislature nor any federal court reversed the initial decision of the Guardianship Court to authorize Michael Schiavo's decision to cease life-prolonging procedures which ultimately resulted in Terri's death by dehydration.<ref>''Bush v. Schiavo'', 885 So. 2d 321 (Fla. 2004).</ref>

== Autopsy ==

== Autopsy ==

The State and Schiavo's estranged husband refused to allow an independent autopsy, and Schiavo was cremated after her death.  The State did perform its own autopsy and reported these results that lack independent verification:<ref>http://www.aapsonline.org/nod/newsofday186.htm</ref> <ref>http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/schiavo/61305autopsyrpt.pdf</ref>

The State and Schiavo's estranged husband refused to allow an independent autopsy, and Schiavo was cremated after her death.  The State did perform its own autopsy and reported these results that lack independent verification:<ref>http://www.aapsonline.org/nod/newsofday186.htm</ref><ref>http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/schiavo/61305autopsyrpt.pdf</ref>

# “Neuropathologic examination alone of the decedent’s brain—or any brain, for that matter—cannot prove or disprove a diagnosis of persistent vegetative state.”

# “Neuropathologic examination alone of the decedent’s brain—or any brain, for that matter—cannot prove or disprove a diagnosis of persistent vegetative state.”

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==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080218/EDITORIAL/864194763 False Compassion] - Washington Times editorial by Terri's brother

*[http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080218/EDITORIAL/864194763 False Compassion] - Washington Times editorial by Terri's brother

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schiavo, Terri}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schiavo, Terri}}