Terri Schiavo's Autopsy Results: Expectations and Controversy

"Our family would really like to know what caused Terri's collapse," Schindler, told Lifenews. "I don't know what they can and can't find 15 years after the fact. If we could get some of our questions answered as to how Terri ended up the way she did, that would be helpful."

It was this desire that led the family to request the assistance of Dr. Cyril H. Wecht, the well-known forensic pathologist and coroner of Allegheny County, Pa. However, Wecht told listeners of a morning radio show that he was denied permission to observe Terri Schiavo's autopsy [more].

Dr. Michael Baden, chief forensic pathologist for the New York State Police, has stated the autopsy could help investigators determine whether Terri suffered physical abuse prior to her 1990 collapse [LifeNews Report].

Hospital admittance records from 1990 show evidence of an injury to Terri's neck and a bone scan, conducted in 1991 (but not revealed until 2002) indicated that Terri suffered significant trauma [more]. Dr. Campbell Walker, the doctor who conducted the scan, wrote, "this patient has a history of trauma. The presumption is that the other multiple areas of trauma also relates to previous trauma". He listed apparent injuries to the ribs, thoracic vertebrae, both sacroiliac joints, both ankles and both knees.

In a prior Fox News interview reported by WorldNetDaily, Baden ruled out potassium imbalance and a heart attack as factors in Terri's mysterious collapse and pointed to head trauma and bone injuries as a more likely cause.

Baden said he studied a bone scan made in March 1991 at a rehabilitation facility that describes her as having a head injury: "That's why she's there, that's why she's getting a bone scan."

"A head injury can cause, can lead to the vegetative state that Ms. Schiavo is in now," he continued, adding the scan showed evidence of other injuries, bone fractures.

CodeBlueBlog, authored by a radiologist, suggests, "... the most likely reason for these bone scan findings in March of 1991 is that someone either was physically abusing Terri or they dropped/mishandled her severely."

However, Michael denies any actions leading to his wife's collapse and no law enforcement agency has every concluded that he was guilty of wrong doing. Felos, asserts that the Schindlers are engaged in a so-called "smear campaign" against Michael.

Felos’ representation of the autopsy's potential is significantly different than those who hope to gain an understanding of factors leading to Terri’s collapse. In particular, he suggests that the autopsy will confirm the extent of Terri’s brain injury and support his client's decision to end her life. Medical experts disagree, and state that a post mortem examination cannot be used to confirm a prior clinical diagnosis [MedPageToday]:

"Persistent vegetative state or minimally conscious state is a clinical diagnosis," says Michael De Georgia, MD, head of the neurology/neurosurgery intensive care unit at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. "It cannot be confirmed by autopsy."

"The [pathologic examination of the] brain can't tell if there is a persistent vegetative state or not," says Harvard neuropathologist E. Tessa Hedley Whyte, MD. "The autopsy will show damage -- probably mostly scarring now -- and that damage will most likely correspond to some extent to what was seen on images."

[snip]

Michael Williams, MD, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, puts it this way. "If you only had the brain to look at and you didn't know anything about the history of the patient, pathology alone cannot prove or disprove a diagnosis of persistent vegetative state."

Pellan told the Associated Press that 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.

Unfortunately, the controversies that have surrounded Terri and Michael have often obscured the most significant element of the case which is that Terri was publicly starved to death by judicial directive at the request of her husband. Judie Brown, president of the American Life League commented, "She was an innocent victim of a heinous crime, who was unjustly sentenced to die an excruciatingly painful death by starvation and dehydration."

Press Conference Details

The press conference will be held in the District Six Medical Examiner’s Office located at 10900 Ulmerton Road, Largo, Florida. Parking areas will be designated on the east side of the Medical Examiner’s Office and those members of the media requiring time for equipment set-up will be allowed to enter the building at 10:00 a.m.

Those in attendance will be provided a complete copy of the report when the press conference begins. An electronic copy of the complete report will be transmitted simultaneously to those people who have previously requested this consideration. Requests for copies of autopsy reports can be made either by visiting the Medical Examiners Office web site , at http://www.co.pinellas.fl.us/forensics/Autopsy_Request/autopsy_request.htm, or by contacting the Medical Examiners Office Records Custodian, Debbie Lewis at (727) 582-6800.

During the press conference, District Medical Examiner Jon R. Thogmartin, MD will provide an overview of the autopsy report and his findings. Following his presentation, Doctor Thogmartin will answer questions from the media. The press conference is expected to be no more than one-hour in duration.

The Medical Examiners Office will not be making any in-person presentations or briefings on the report prior to the scheduled press conference

Cross Posted: ProLifeBlogs