Sierra Faith

From a medical examiner who didn’t want anyone else watching.

Michelle Malkin observes it has been awhile, reminds that an important book is about to be published, and notes an interesting case in Great Britain.

Blogs for Terri provides additional context from WorldNetDaily.

ProLifeBlogs has an outstanding summary of Terri Schiavo’s Autopsy Results: Expectations and Controversy.

[Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner's Office Director of Investigations Bill] Pellan told the Associated Press that [Pinellas County Medical Examiner Jon] Thogmartin reviewed police reports, medical records and other documents in trying to determine the cause of her brain damage. The issue of whether she was in a persistent vegetative state “will be addressed,” Pellan said, although he would not comment further Tuesday.

We shall see, but I just don’t have much trust in a doctor who claims to be a professional but denied the request of a colleague to observe and assist — More Questions than Answers in my mind.

UPDATE:

More good history, context and a prediction by Fr. Rob Johansen at Blogs for Terri.

UPDATE II:

Both Blogs for Terri and ProLifeBlogs have the autopsy report.

Father Rob Johansen’s prediction appears to be correct.

LARGO, Fla. (Reuters) - Terri Schiavo, a Florida woman who died in March after a fierce right-to-die battle that involved the U.S. Congress, was severely brain damaged and had no hope of recovery, said a medical examiner who made the results of an autopsy public on Wednesday.

Recovery to what?

Now we have a standard to which if we cannot recover, death by dehydration is permissible?

Disgustingly disingenuous.

UPDATE III:

ProLifeBlogs is tracking thoughts from the blogosphere. Check it out.

ProLifeBlogs and Blogs for Terri also have a statement from someone who was with Terri at her death.

Fr. Frank Pavone, who was with Terri Schiavo in the final hours and moments of her life and has called her death a murder, issued the following statement upon today’s release of her autopsy report:

“No details of this autopsy change the moral evaluation of what happened to Terri. Her physical injuries and disabilities never made her less of a person. No amount of brain injury ever justifies denying a person proper humane care. That includes food and water.

“A person with a ‘profoundly atrophied’ brain needs profound care and love. Terri did not die from an atrophied brain. She died from an atrophy of compassion on the part of her estranged husband and those who helped him to have her deliberately killed.”

And don’t miss Scrappleface today.

Autopsy: Schiavo Not Abused, Just Dehydrated
by Scott Ott
(2005-06-15) — A coroner’s report has cleared Michael Schiavo of allegations that he abused his wife before he cut off her food and water supply.

Many shamelessly yawn at the dehydration death of an innocent woman needing, but denied, the protection of her State.

UPDATE IV:

Emotional flares have begun across the blogosphere, and La Shawn Barber warns that the spin has only just begun.

Don’t be alarmed or disgusted by the liberal media and liberal bloggers declaring that Terri’s wayward husband is somehow “vindicated” by the autopsy report.

Look at the thing itself, to paraphrase a fictional man-eater paraphrasing Marcus Aurelius. What is it in itself? What is its nature, this culture of death?

It is dark, dank, and putrid.

And I still have More Questions than Answers.

UPDATE V:

The Anchoress notes a simple fact (emphasis in the original).

The woman was totally dehydrated and yes, when you are dehydrated your brain will shrink.

I haven’t read anyone, anywhere, who has written down that simple fact.

The autopsy confirmed what no one denied: Terri Schiavo was in bad shape. She was severely brain damaged.

It will take some time for everyone to read and think about the autopsy report, but observations such as those just made should keep us alert to that which is not said or written in the report.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 15th, 2005 at 3:09 am and is filed under Sanctity of Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.