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[[Image:TerriSchiavo.jpg|right|thumb|Terri Schiavo before her injury]]

[[Image:TerriSchiavo.jpg|right|thumb|Terri Schiavo before her injury]]

'''Terri Schiavo''' (Dec. 3, 1963 – Mar. 31, 2005) was a disabled woman forced to die by dehydration over the objections of her parents, her brother and sister, her church, and millions of Americans.  Congress passed a special law to prevent her dehydration, but it was unsuccessful as interpreted by federal courts.

'''Terri Schiavo''' (Dec. 3, 1963 – Mar. 31, 2005) was a disabled woman forced to die by dehydration over the objections of her parents, her brother and sister, her church, and millions of Americans.  [[Congress]] passed a special law to prevent her dehydration, but it was unsuccessful as interpreted by federal courts.

Schiavo was diagnosed by physicians as being [[brain-damaged]] after her husband reported that she had collapsed in their home early in the morning.  At the urging of Terri's parents to date other women, her husband Michael Schiavo later started a new family with another woman, whom he eventually married after Terri's death, while retaining legal authority over Terri.[http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/26/Tampabay/She_s_the_other_woman.shtml]

Schiavo was diagnosed by physicians as being brain-damaged after her husband reported that she had collapsed in their home early in the morning.  Her husband Michael Schiavo later 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>

George Felos, an attorney prominent in the right-to-die movement and described by some as "pro-death"<ref>http://www.northcountrygazette.org/articles/101205TerriSchiavo.html</ref> represented Mr. Schiavo and applied to the Pinellas County-Pasco County Circuit [[probate court]] for the right to remove Terri’s feeding tube.  The court agreed with the request after seven years of testimony from Terri’s husband, parents, and numerous professional and medical witnesses.<ref>http://abstractappeal.com/schiavo/WolfsonReport.pdf</ref>  Several people, including children, were arrested when they attempted to give drinking water to Terri after the final court order was enforced.<ref>http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/mar/05032402.html</ref>

George Felos, an attorney prominent in the right-to-die movement and described by some as "pro-death"<ref>http://www.northcountrygazette.org/articles/101205TerriSchiavo.html</ref> represented Mr. Schiavo and applied to the Pinellas County-Pasco County Circuit [[probate court]] for the right to remove Terri's feeding tube.  A judge ordered her death despite objections by everyone in Terri's own family and several medical professionals.<ref>http://abstractappeal.com/schiavo/WolfsonReport.pdf</ref>  His order not only required removal of Terri's feeding tube, but ordered the arrest of people who peacefully attempted to give drinking water to Terri rather than let her die of dehydration.<ref>http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/mar/05032402.html</ref>

Terri Schiavo was not [[terminally ill]], she was not “end stage,” but she was determined to be in a [[persistent vegetative state]].  This conclusion was reached by all the [[neurologist]]s that examined Terri with the exception of the neurologist hired by Terri’s parents.  Her parents were given the right to a comprehensive examination of Terri by order of the Florida 6th Judicial Circuit court.  Two neurologists selected by Michael Schiavo, one [[radiologist]] and one neurologist selected by Terri’s parents, and one neurologist selected by the court examined Terri and her medical history thoroughly.  Based on the medical testimony, the court determined Terri was in a persistent vegetative state with no hope of improvement.[http://abstractappeal.com/schiavo/WolfsonReport.pdf]

Terri Schiavo was not terminally ill, she was not “end stage,” but she was determined to be in a persistent vegetative state.  This conclusion was reached by neurologists hired on the side seeking her death, but disputed by neurologists hired by Terri’s parents.  Her parents were given the right to a comprehensive examination of Terri by order of the Florida 6th Judicial Circuit court.  Two neurologists selected by Michael Schiavo, one radiologist and one neurologist selected by Terri’s parents, and one neurologist selected by the court examined Terri and her medical history thoroughly.  The judge, who refused to recuse himself, declared that Terri was in a persistent vegetative state with no hope of improvement.[http://abstractappeal.com/schiavo/WolfsonReport.pdf]

Many patients observed to be in a brain-damaged state like Terri's have surprisingly recovered, including several highly publicized cases shortly after Terri died from dehydration.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4511511.stm</ref>

Many patients observed to be in a brain-damaged state like Terri's have surprisingly recovered, including several highly publicized cases shortly after Terri died from dehydration.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4511511.stm</ref><ref>http://cornellsun.com/node/23962</ref>

==Legal dispute==

==Legal dispute==

The legal dispute over Schiavo's death lasted seven years, beginning with the filing of a petition in 1998 with the Pinellas County (Florida) Circuit Court for permission to remove her [[feeding tube]], and ending with her death in 2005. During this time, one of Terri's nurses states that Terri frequently spoke (saying "help me" and "Mommy") and recognized familiar people.  During the same time, Mr. Schiavo became increasingly frustrated with the efforts of Terri's parents to save her life, and often stated that he wished Terri would die.  The nurse also states that several times following Mr. Schiavo's visits, she would find Terri's blood sugar abnormally low, suggesting that Mr. Schiavo may have been attempting to cause Terri's death by insulin shock.  These accusations were never investigated, because Doctors could not find any evidence to support this Nurse's charges. <ref>http://www.renewamerica.us/forum/?date=050320&a=2&message=105</ref><ref>http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/9/22/165543.shtml</ref>  Following her death, the county coroner refused to allow an independent autopsy or even an independent review of its autopsy, and claimed without independent verification that Terri's brain had half the normal mass for a woman her age.  Her body was then cremated, destroying any possible exculpatory evidence.

The legal dispute over Schiavo's death lasted seven years, beginning with the filing of a petition in 1998 with the Pinellas County (Florida) Circuit Court for permission to remove her [[feeding tube]], and ending with her death in 2005. During this time, one of Terri's nurses states that Terri frequently spoke (saying "help me" and "Mommy") and recognized familiar people.  During the same time, Mr. Schiavo increasingly came under the influence of attorney George Felos, who is prominent in the pro-death movement.  A nurse suggested misconduct by Mr. Schiavo during his visits, alleging evidence that Mr. Schiavo may have been harming Terri.<ref>http://www.renewamerica.us/forum/?date=050320&a=2&message=105</ref><ref>http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/9/22/165543.shtml</ref>  Following Terri's death, the county coroner refused to allow an independent autopsy or even an independent review of its autopsy, and claimed without independent verification that Terri's brain had half the normal mass for a woman her age.  Her body was then quickly cremated, destroying any possible exculpatory evidence.

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 lated 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 lated 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 Congress nor any federal court overturned the probate judge's order that Terri be dehydrated to death.

Neither an Act of Congress nor any federal court overturned the probate judge's order that Terri be dehydrated to death.

== 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: <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 result 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.”