Autopsy May Shed Light On Schiavo's Medical Condition
POSTED: Friday, April 1, 2005
UPDATED: 1:30 pm EST April 1,
2005
An autopsy being performed on the body of Terri Schiavo could help determine what Schiavo's state of consciousness was and whether she was abused by her husband, as the woman's parents allege, according to a Local 6 News report.
Schiavo, 41, died Thursday, nearly two weeks after her feeding tube was removed by a judge's order. Michael Schiavo said his wife told him long ago that she would not want to be kept alive artificially. Her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, disputed that, and held out hope for a miracle recovery for a daughter they said still struggled to talk.
RESPONSE: Vatican | Delay | Bush
VIDEO: Family: 'Finally With God' | Final Moments
LATEST: Schiavo Dies | Parents Denied Access
VIDEO: Family, Friends Mourning
IMAGES: Who's Who
DISCUSSION: Discuss Case
MORE: Information On Living Wills
The disagreement over Terri Schiavo's medical condition for the last 15 years will be settled by yet another outsider -- Dr. John Thogmartin, chief medical examiner for Pinellas .It could take several weeks to get the report, which the law requires be made public. It will include a thorough examination by a board-certified neuropathologist, as well as routine forensic procedures and X-rays. That could shed light on two questions that have been publicly raised: Was Terri Schiavo's diagnosis of "persistent vegetative state" correct? Her husband hopes it will offer definitive proof of that diagnosis. Although doctors cited Schiavo's brain scans as evidence of brain damage, they based their diagnoses of persistent vegetative state mostly on her behavior. Experts say a brain autopsy could lend more support by showing patterns of brain damage consistent with a persistent vegetative state. "If there's very extensive brain injury, it would be hard to accept another diagnosis as being conceivable," said Dr. Roger Albin, a neurology professor and director of the brain bank at the University of Michigan Medical School. The other question that an autopsy could answer would be: Was she physically abused, as her family suggested and her husband has repeatedly denied? An autopsy can detect whether bones have broken and healed, even many years ago. It can't determine when the injury occurred. But comparisons with X-rays from previous dates could help get a fix on that. Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Copyright 2005 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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RESPONSE: Vatican | Delay | Bush VIDEO: Family: 'Finally With God' | Final Moments LATEST: Schiavo Dies | Parents Denied Access VIDEO: Family, Friends Mourning IMAGES: Who's Who DISCUSSION: Discuss Case MORE: Information On Living Wills The disagreement over Terri Schiavo's medical condition for the last 15 years will be settled by yet another outsider -- Dr. John Thogmartin, chief medical examiner for Pinellas .It could take several weeks to get the report, which the law requires be made public. It will include a thorough examination by a board-certified neuropathologist, as well as routine forensic procedures and X-rays. That could shed light on two questions that have been publicly raised: Was Terri Schiavo's diagnosis of "persistent vegetative state" correct? Her husband hopes it will offer definitive proof of that diagnosis. Although doctors cited Schiavo's brain scans as evidence of brain damage, they based their diagnoses of persistent vegetative state mostly on her behavior. Experts say a brain autopsy could lend more support by showing patterns of brain damage consistent with a persistent vegetative state. "If there's very extensive brain injury, it would be hard to accept another diagnosis as being conceivable," said Dr. Roger Albin, a neurology professor and director of the brain bank at the University of Michigan Medical School. The other question that an autopsy could answer would be: Was she physically abused, as her family suggested and her husband has repeatedly denied? An autopsy can detect whether bones have broken and healed, even many years ago. It can't determine when the injury occurred. But comparisons with X-rays from previous dates could help get a fix on that. Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Previous Stories:
- March 31, 2005: Vatican: Schiavo 'Executed Through A Cruel Method'
- March 31, 2005: DeLay: Those Responsible For Schiavo's Death Will Answer For It
- March 31, 2005: Vatican Cardinal Condemns Death Of Schiavo
- March 31, 2005: Gov. Bush: 'I Wish I Could Have Done More'
- March 31, 2005: Adviser: Schiavo's Parents Denied Access At Moment Of Death
- March 31, 2005: Terri Schiavo Dies
- March 30, 2005: CBSNews.com's Draft Of Schiavo Obit Found On Internet
- March 29, 2005: List Of Schiavo Donors To Be Sold
- March 29, 2005: Rev. Jesse Jackson: Treatment Of Schiavo An 'Injustice'
- March 29, 2005: Police Shock Man Attempting To Bring Schiavo Water
- March 29, 2005: Police: Man Threatens Schiavo In-Laws
- March 29, 2005: Attorney: Schiavo To Have Autopsy
- March 29, 2005: Schiavo's Parents Say Daughter Weakened
- March 28, 2005: Schiavo's Father: Terri Weak, Emaciated
- March 28, 2005: Schiavo's Parents 'Dealing With Reality' As Protesters Head To DC
- March 28, 2005: Schiavo Receives Last Rites; Priest: 'Death Is Imminent'
- March 26, 2005: FDLE Team Was Standing Ready To Seize Schiavo
- March 25, 2005: Man Charged With Offering $250,000 For Michael Schiavo Hit
- March 25, 2005: Newspaper: Sources Say Police Nearly Faced Off Over Schiavo
- March 25, 2005: Schiavo Protesters Flood Florida Abuse Hot Line
- March 25, 2005: Judge Denies Emergency Request -- Again
- March 25, 2005: Schiavo Shows Dehydration; Court Battle Continues
- March 25, 2005: Deputies: Man Tried To Steal Gun To 'Rescue Terri Schiavo'
- March 24, 2005: Judge Won't Hear Bush Request To Intervene
- March 24, 2005: High Court Rejects Request To Reinsert Tube
- March 24, 2005: Schiavo's Parents Appeal To U.S. Supreme Court
- March 24, 2005: Polls: Evangelicals, Conservatives Disapprove Of Schiavo Intervention
- March 23, 2005: Arrested Protesters Outside Schiavo's Hospice Include Kids
- March 23, 2005: Cyberspace Debate: Schiavo Case Provokes A Blogging Storm
- March 23, 2005: Bush: Schiavo Case Is 'Extraordinary'
- March 23, 2005: 10 Demonstrators Arrested Outside Schiavo's Hospice Trying To Bring Water
- March 23, 2005: Senator: Last Chance To Keep Schiavo Alive
- March 22, 2005: Lawyers Appeal Ruling Not To Reinsert Schiavo's Feeding Tube
- March 22, 2005: Poll: Most Say Congress Inappropriately Entered Schiavo Case
- March 21, 2005: Federal Judge Hearing Schiavo Case
- March 19, 2005: Schiavo Spending First Full Day Off Feeding Tube
- March 19, 2005: Doctors Remove Schiavo's Feeding Tube
- March 18, 2005: Schiavo Case Renews Public's Interest In Living Wills
- March 18, 2005: Judge Blocks Removal Of Schiavo's Feeding Tube
- March 17, 2005: Efforts to Keep Terri Schiavo Alive Hit Roadblock
- March 17, 2005: Fla. House Passes Bill To Save Terri Schiavo
- March 16, 2005: Congress May Try To Intercede In Schiavo Case
- March 16, 2005: State Appeals Court Won't Block Removal Of Schiavo's Feeding Tube
- March 16, 2005: Michael Schiavo Attacks Legislators In 'Nightline' Interview
- March 15, 2005: Bill To Intervene In Schiavo Case Heads To Full House
- February 25, 2005: Calls, E-Mails About Schiavo Flood Governor's Office
- February 23, 2005: Judge Extends Emergency Stay In Schiavo Case
- December 23, 2003: Bush Lawyers Predict Defeat In Schiavo Case
- November 25, 2003: Schiavo Asks Judge To Skip Trial Over Terri's Law
- November 21, 2003: Bush Appeals In Schiavo Case
- November 5, 2003: Judge Lets Parents Challenge Custody Of Schiavo
- October 30, 2003: Lawyers Challenge Constitutionality Of 'Terri's Law'
- October 28, 2003: Husband Of Brain-Damaged Woman Blasts Family
Copyright 2005 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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