Nurse on CNN trashes Michael Schiavo & my e-mail resonse...

[Flubadubya]

Bill Hemmer just interviewed a nurse who supposedly took care of Terri Schiavo from 1995 to 1996. She accused Michael of being a bully, not caring about Terri except that she wear makeup and other outrageous and wild claims. She says he demanded this and that and that the nursing staff follow his orders and not the doctors. She said she complained to her supervisor and administrator. Claims she even went to the police. (One curious thing here, she claims he didn't really care about Terri. If that were the case why was he so demanding about her care? Why did he come in all the time to see about her, why didn't he just stay away and neglect her ...Oh well,I digress).

Anyway, it was just an atrocious display on the part of this woman. When asked about documentation to substantiate her claims, she said that the information could not come forward because of a gag order by a judge. When asked if she had ever witnessed any interactions between Michael and Terri she said "no" because he always closed the door when he came.

It just really pissed me off that Bill Hemmer would have someone who had NO substantiation whatsoever for their story come on and trash this poor man. So, I got busy and shot off this e-mail to him:

This comment is for Bill Hemmer who interviewed the nurse who claimed to have attended Teri Schiavo from 1995 to 1996. I am disturbed and disappointed that you would have someone on to trash and demean Mr. Schiavo's reputation and honor who has absolutely NO documentation or even observation to back up her claims. This is journalism? I thought you were supposed to deal in facts, not innuendo and hearsay from less than reputable sources.

That being said, why DON'T you deal in facts? Namely, the fact that when George Bush was governor of Texas in 1999 he signed a bill that allows hospitals in Texas the right to remove a person from life support based solely on the fact that they are not capable of paying for their care. This can be done without consultation of family members, indeed, it can be done even over the prostestations of any family members. They have NO rights in these cases. Why don't you tell the country about that law that Bush signed off on? That sir is fact, not wild rumor or speculation, and, it certainly puts a more revealing light on the so-called "compassionate conservatism" of our so-called President and the cynicism and hypocrisy of his "emergency flight" to Washington to sign the bill "to save" poor Mrs. Schiavo... something he could have done from Crawford anyway.

I am just curious as to why we have not heard from our "mainstream" media on this specific issue. Can you answer why that is, please? Thank you.

[JI7]

1. great letter

what are the chances it would be read on tv?

[Ilsa]

2. I saw the "interview" as well.

Yeah, shoddy journalism. I bet he never bothered to find out if she is a real nurse or who she says she is.

Great letter.

I forgot to add: she insinuated that he was closing the door and injecting TS with insulin. She was very careful not to say this directly, but she commented that she found small needle marks on TS as if she was being injected with insulin, and that he would visit and close the door.

I think this "nurse" needs to be investigated and someone needs to determine if she is real or if she should be practicing nursing. She shouldn't be violating patient confidentiality anyway. If it was true, then where are the other nurses over a 15 year period?

[rl6214]

10. If he were injecting her with insulin

her body would not be alive today. Her sugar levels would have bottomed out and she would have died.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Also, One Can't See Insulin Syringe Points

I use that size needle for my MS medicine. The needle is a 32 to 46 gauge needle. Unless you knew exactly where the injection was done, you would not see the mark.

So, she obviously is just making this stuff up.
The Professor

[rl6214]

12. The only exception being

if he drew blood and didn't wipe it off.

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Very Rare

Unless one is a severe diabetic, bleeding from a short, superfine needle is rare. I've been doing 182 injections a year for 10 years, and i've drawn blood 3 times.

You're right, that's possible, but that would be an improbable confluence of events.
The Professor

[Ilsa]

19. I think all three of you are on the money here.

I'm a nurse and it is rare that any blood is drawn. The only thing that shows is how the skin changes over many years of injections. My cousin, a type I sonce infancy, had to have plastic surgery on her hips because of the injections turning her skin, etc into a sponge.

I haven't had much time this morning to process what this "nurse" has been saying. I hope someone checks her out and finds out if she is for real.

[ohio_liberal]

3. Her affidavit

Is a real piece of work. I don't know anyone here that saw it and didn't think it was bullshit.

Here it is:

Please note that this woman was terminated from her position at the convalescent center, and she waited 7 years to give this affidavit (which isn't signed, dated, or notarized, btw)

http://www.terrisfight.org/documents/CIyerAffidavit090203.htm

"I recorded Michael’s statements word for word in Terri’s chart, but these entries were also deleted after the end of my shift. Standing orders were that the family wasn’t to be contacted, in fact, there was a large sign in the front of her chart that said under no circumstances was her family to be called, call Michael immediately, but I would call them, anyway, because I thought they should know about their daughter."

Remember that the Schindlers are not next of kin by law, so this woman took it upon herself to meddle in Michael Schiavo's affairs and to record his statements word for word. WTF is up with that?

[fryguy]

4. well written

let us know if the slime-bags of cnn reply....

[gratuitous]

5. Good letter

I saw part of that segment. Hemmer was a smidgen skeptical about the woman's claims, but putting her on for three minutes of unbridled hatred unencumbered by facts about events from 10 years ago was just atrocious. All the while this person intoned into the camera that she just wanted to tell "The Truth" about everything. "That's a lie; Terri wants to LIVE!" Hemmer didn't question that at all. How does the nurse, who hasn't seen the patient in nine or ten years, know what a person who can't communicate, can't swallow, can't do anything for herself "wants"?

I rather hope this flint-faced woman receives an official reprimand on her nursing license as well. She was yammering on about patient care and family visits as if the patient had no rights to privacy, which was a serious breach of professional nursing ethics.

Hemmer's judgment in putting this woman on is rightly called into question.

[Horse with no Name]

9. There is only one problem with her discussing the case now

Once a lawsuit is filed on behalf of a patient, the medical records become public record and there isn't any confidentiality attached, so therefore HIPAA laws aren't attached.
Where this nurse made a mistake is where she stated that she deliberately called the family when the legal guardian told her not to.
That is flagrant.

[Mizmoon]

6. Earlier Hemmer also talked about "when Michaal Jackson

goes to jail ... "

Nice due process there, Bill. I think Jacko's a wacko too, but I also KNOW that he's an American citizen with the right to a trial.

[Horse with no Name]

7. Michael Schiavo addressed this nurse in his 2003 interview

on Larry King.
He stated that he was very hard on the nursing staff because they weren't taking care of Terri and that this nurse had a grudge against him.
As far as her calling the family when the next of kin directly said not to?
She needs to be turned into the State Board of Nursing in Florida to have her license revoked. You are NOT allowed to discuss patients or the care of that patient with anyone that their legal guardian tells you not to without a specific court order.
As far as following dr orders?
Most nursing home orders are what are considered standing orders and every patient has them.
I wonder if this nurse wanted to give Terri a stool softener and Michael refused and wanted to try something else.
This is just insanity at its best and goes to show that it doesn't matter what profession, there are these fundie nuts everywhere willing to lie to further their cause.
Someone does need to get hold of this transcript however and have this "nurse's" license pulled.

[Parrcrow]

8. I saw the interview as well

I was disgusted. It was incredibly shoddy journalism. Her comments were unsubstatiated nonsense designed to inflame. She also claimed that Ms Schiavo could speak and would say things like "Mommy", "Pain" and "Help Me". She claimed as well that Mr Schiavo would come in and ask; "Is that bitch dead yet?"

It was inevitable that the RW would begin an attack on Mr Schiavo, but how could CNN possibly justify puting this ridiculous crap on the air.

Terri Schiavo's mind is gone, her body is wrecked and her soul is trapped. Let her go.

[Straight Shooter]

14. This "nurse" has opened the door to a slander suit.

Michael Schiavo probably won't sue her, he has his hands full as it is and it might backfire on him. But, AFAIC, she needs to be investigated and sanctioned because she clearly has violated at least one, if not several professional ethics.

What's the real story here? I don't know what the people in this situation look or act like (no television). Did she make a pass at this man and he rebuffed her?

Hemmer is a bottom-crawler. Good letter, Flubadubya. :thumbsup:

edit: typo; I make mistakes when I'm angry.

[Flubadubya]

16. Thanks SS...

My personal opinion is that this nurse is another one of those hard, right-wing set ups, completely analagous to the Swift Boat Liars. When they get backed into a corner (which they are now), they fight their dirtiest. This has Rovian prints all over it, and, of course, the lap-dog media sits up and begs for more!! :puke: The whole thing is really disgusting!

[mondo joe]

15. I suggest if Hemmer ever needs surgery he see a nurse rather

than a surgeon or specialist.

[moobu2]

17. The Judge said that nurses statements were not believable

[Dr.Phool]

18. I feel sorry for Michael Shiavo

The Shindlers have been hinting for months about "spousal abuse", and it was only a matter of time before the started full scale character assasination.

I also hope Judge Greer has a couple of good bodyguards. The nutjobs hanging around outside are liable to do anything. Especially if they hear a funny voice in their heads.