Free Republic
Excerpts from Terri Schiavo Autopsy Report
Medical Examiner, Pasco and Pinellas Counties ^ | June 13, 2005 | Medical Examiner, Pasco and Pinellas Counties
Posted on 06/17/2005 11:56:16 PM PDT by eartotheground
Autopsy highlights: (my comments in parentheses)
T11 endplate fracture (?correllates with bone scan)
Renal scar (right)
Heart normal (no evidence of "heart attack")
"Manner of death: Undetermined"
Dr. Stephen Nelson, Neuropathologist, in a report contained within the autopsy report: "The persistent vegetative state and minimally conscious state are clinical diagnoses, not pathologic ones. The neurophysiologic findings of the persistent vegetative state have been well described in the medical literature ... yet there are no similarly published neurophysiologic descriptions specific to the minimally conscious state".
"In diffuse axonal injury this abnormality is usually due to a shearing injury after acute trauma".
"Neurophysiologic examination alone of the decedent's brain - or any brain for that matter - cannot prove or disprove a diagnosis of persistent vegetative state or minimally conscious state".
From the remainder of the report by Dr. Thogmartin:
"Mrs. Schiavo's potassium level... measured after a period of ventricular fibrillation, epinephrine, and fluid administration was an unreliable measure of her pre-arrest potassium level. Thus, the main piece of evidence supporting a diagnosis of Bulimia Nervosa is suspect or, at least, can be explained by her clinical condition at the time of the blood draw. Although in the malpractice proceedings the low protein values were suggested as indicators of malnutrition, this is unlikely and not generally characteristic of Bulimia Nervosa."
"Autopsy examination of her neck structures 15 years after her initial collapse did not detect any signs of remote trauma, but, with such a delay, the exam was unlikely to show any residual neck findings. Even bony anomalies would have likely resolved." (or suffocated, n.b.)
"What was the cause and manner of death? Mrs. Schiavo suffered a severe anoxic brain injury. The cause of which cannot be determined with reasonable medical certainty. The manner of death will therefore be certified as undetermined".
More comments follow at:
http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1425515/posts