Terri Schiavo XII

Kevin McCullough's column today in WorldNetDaily is must-reading for anyone who followed the Terri Schiavo case, especially if you've been disappointed or confused by the mainstream media's analysis of the autopsy results. Typical is the headline in the LA Times when the autopsy results were released: "Schiavo Was Beyond Saving, Autopsy Finds."

"Beyond saving" is not what the autopsy said, unless what the LA Times means by "saving" is a return to what she had been before the incident that caused the brain damage.

McCullough lists the family's response to the autopsy:

The family maintained:

1. The report confirmed her condition and disability. (It did not make the claim that Terri was terminal or in any way in danger of becoming terminal.) The report confirmed that Terri was brain damaged and not brain dead, it also indicated Terri could have lived another 10 years or longer with basic care.
2. The autopsy did not reveal anything regarding "Terri's choice" to be dehydrated to death.
3. The autopsy made it clear that dehydration was Terri's cause of death and not her brain injuries.
4. The autopsy confirmed that Terri's heart was strong and working well.
5. The autopsy ruled out bulimia and massive heart attack as the cause for Terri's injury. (It did nothing to account for the 70-minute gap from when Terri originally collapsed and when Michael originally called for help.)
6. With bulimia ruled out, according to the autopsy results, the case for Michael's malpractice suit has been completely undermined. (The parents believe that Michael should return the monies won on this claim.)
7. The autopsy showed that Terri's struggle to swallow was not from a permanent vegetative state, but from muscle atrophy. (Of course, being denied 12 years of therapy might have had something to do with that atrophy).
8. The autopsy showed that persistent vegetative state is a clinical diagnosis made on a living individual and a medical examiner can not make this determination by examining a corpse.
9. The autopsy stated that Terri was given morphine for pain. This ran in contrast to the claims that Mr. Felos made consistently that Terri would experience no pain or discomfort.

It's too bad the mainstream press continues to print only the viewpoint of the right-to-die crowd. Terri deserved better, and someday maybe you or I will deserve better too.