Has it been confirmed whether or not Terri will undergo an autopsy?
When and if she passes, is Michael Schiavo responsible for her remains? I heard something about heading back east and a cremation… Therefore, could he allow an autopsy, and would he?
And regardless of that outcome, would an autopsy positively prove that she really has no consciousness (I believe this is a yes or no question, and if I’m wrong, it can be debated elsewhere)? What about studying her brain for more insight into a PVS person for the greater cause?
The law does not require an autopsy for a death while under a doctor’s care, which this is. The coroner can order an autopsy for any death in his jurisdiction.
I cannot even touch the second part of your question, although I suspect that no information gathered by an autopsy could shake the firm beliefs of people on either end of this case.
It seems to me that the discretion to do an autopsy lies in the medical examiner’s hands, with the state’s attorney having the ability to order an autopsy.
Since the SA has shown no indication of a willingness to prosecute the case, and because the ME hasn’t vocalized a request, and Michael Schaivo, more than likely, will not request an autopsy, I would highly doubt any autopsy will be done.
Your link didn’t work for me, but it was mentioned on CNN that an autopsy will be performed, apparently with the consent of both the parents and Michael.
He feels it will prove that he had nothing to do with her collapse, they feel it will show that he did.
Poor woman will be dissected because neither party can possibly let her death be the end of it. :rolleyes:
Heh, didn’t think they’d be talking about it so fast. Anyhow, I feel that this is great news.
Whether or not you agree with Michael, is it safe to say that both opposing sides agree with performing the autopsy and studying her brain for the sake of knowledge, for a person that is in vegetative state? Or will their still be a lot of non-believers. (Or will they be in the minority for the most part?)
Now that some of the questions have been answered tonight, I think it’s safe to move this thread to Great Debates should it head that way.
As of Monday evening it was reported that Michael had ordered an atopsy.
Be surprised! As to why is anybodys guess. Being suspicious, my take is to prove that she was essentially brain dead and could not be rehabilitated under any circumstances.
Well ratchet up my smarts and call me Cecil! I guess I can understand Ms. Schiavo’s husband wanting to clear his name in public and to explain the extent of damages to the public, but I am surprised he’d do it. I’d like to see a neurologist included at the autopsy, but I haven’t heard anything about that either. Very interesting.
An autopsy will really not say that much more about Terri’s condition. It will show the huge amount of cerebral atrophy that is perfectly evident on her CT scan. I don’t know if they will be able to tell on autopsy whether any remaining cortical tissue is functional, but it’s clear from her EEG that it isn’t.
Her autopsy will not convince anyone of anything if they aren’t already convinced. If she does have a total lack of any cortical tissue remaining, they’ll say that it all happened because they removed the feeding tube and starved her to death.
My guess is that it will be done solely to defuse charges from the Schindlers that Michael Schiavo is hiding something. They will use anything to portray him as a murdering philanderer, so why give them any more ammunition?
Both sides will be looking to the report for redemption. It being a fairly scientific document with little room for embellishment, both sides will find it. It will solve nothing. I really do hope it shows not one iota of evidence that in any way could be construed as evidence against the husband, but in a document like that I doubt it.