Changes

'''Terri Schiavo''' 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''' was a disabled woman forced to die by dehydration over the objections of her parents, her brother and sister, her church.  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.  Her husband later started a new family with another woman whom he did not marry, instead retaining legal authority over Terri.  An attorney prominent in the movement described by some as "pro-death" represented Mr. Schiavo and applied to a probate court for the right to deprive Terri of water until she died.  The probate judge ordered that Terri be dehydrated to death, and that anyone attempting to bring her water be arrested.  

Schiavo was diagnosed by physicians as being brain-dead after her husband reported that she had collapsed in their home early in the morning.  Her husband later started a new family with another woman whom he did not marry, instead retaining legal authority over Terri.  An attorney prominent in the movement described by some as "pro-death" represented Mr. Schiavo and applied to a probate court for the right to deprive Terri of water until she died.  The probate judge ordered that doctors remove the feeding tube, and that anyone attempting to bring her water be arrested.  

Terri Schiavo was not terminally ill, she was not “end stage,” and she was likely not in a persistent vegetative state. The parents were denied the right to have a comprehensive medical examination of her by independent physicians. 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.

Terri Schiavo was not terminally ill, she was not “end stage,” and she was likely not in a persistent vegetative state[citation needed]. The parents were denied the right to have a comprehensive medical examination of her by independent physicians. 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[who?  This claim is highly disputed].

==Legal dispute==

==Legal dispute==

# “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.”

# The changes in the cortex were most severe in the occipital lobes, “with relative preservation of the frontal and temporal lobes.”

# The changes in the cortex were most severe in the occipital lobes, “with relative preservation of the frontal and temporal lobes.”

# Oral feedings, based on autopsy findings and past medical records, were “potentially harmful or, at least, extremely dangerous to Mrs. Schiavo’s health and welfare” because of the risk of aspiration. [Better to dehydrate and starve the patient and cause certain death than to risk an aspiration pneumonia?]

# Oral feedings, based on autopsy findings and past medical records, were “potentially harmful or, at least, extremely dangerous to Mrs. Schiavo’s health and welfare” because of the risk of aspiration. [Better to dehydrate and starve the patient and cause certain death than to risk an aspiration pneumonia?]

# The only evidence for an eating disorder was the initial low serum potassium, which could have resulted from the fluid load and epinephrine administered during her resuscitation.

# The only evidence for an eating disorder was the initial low serum potassium, which could have resulted from the fluid load and epinephrine administered during her resuscitation.

==Similar cases==

==Similar cases==

* Nancy Cruzan.  An American woman left in allegedly vegetative state after a car accident.

* Nancy Cruzan.  An American woman left in allegedly vegetative state after a car accident.

* Sue Rodriguez.  A Canadian woman with a terminal illness who desired an assisted suicide.

* Sue Rodriguez.  A Canadian woman with a terminal illness who desired an assisted suicide.