Knitting a Conundrum

Why Does Michael Want Terri To Die?

It’s hard to say. When Terri suffered her brain injury in 1990 (which, by the way, occurred under very suspicious circumstances involving possible physical violence), Michael filed a malpractice lawsuit and was awarded $1.2 million in damages—blaming Terri’s condition on something the hospital staff did wrong when they were treating her.

In the malpractice trial, Michael told the jury that he dearly loved his wife and wanted to take care of her for the rest of his life. The $1.2 million was awarded specifically so that he could afford to give her the therapy and rehabilitation she required.

But then, soon after the money came in, Michael did an about-face and immediately terminated all of Terri’s therapy and rehab. And in 1998, he suddenly “remembered” that she once told him that she wouldn’t want to be “kept alive” artificially. So for the last 7 years, he has sought to get her gastro tube removed so that she would die by starvation and dehydration.

But being fed by a gastro tube does not qualify as “being kept alive artificially”! If you asked all the people who depend on their gastro tube if they would prefer to die because they’re being fed by a gastro tube, they would respond with a resounding “NO!”

But due to her brain injury, Terri can’t speak for herself. She has difficulty communicating. So she really can’t say if Michael is telling the truth or not—and whether or not she wants to die.

But we believe Terri does not want to die.

When her parents visit her, Terri laughs… she cries… she moves… and she makes child-like attempts at speech with her mother and father. Sometimes she will say “Mom” or “Dad” or “yeah” when they ask her a question. And when they kiss her hello or goodbye, she looks at them and “puckers up” her lips.

She’s able to sit in a chair… she loves to listen to her favorite music… and she recognizes her brother and sister when they come to visit.

She is definitely not in a “persistent vegetative state” (PVS). In fact, four board-certified neurologists… two board-certified internists… numerous other doctors… two speech pathologists… and a neuro-psychologist all say that Terri is not in PVS. Several of her nurses came forward to say this, too.

Other experts long ago confirmed that Terri could achieve significant recovery and lead a long, happy life if she were given proper rehab.

But Michael refused to allow proper rehab.

He also put a “Do Not Resuscitate” order on Terri’s chart. He tried to prevent the nurses from treating Terri’s infections—expecting her to develop sepsis and die. He did not allow her to be given speech or swallow therapy. He did not allow her to be given a “system” for communicating. He wouldn’t even let the nurses in the hospice put a rolled-up washcloth in her hand so that her fingers wouldn’t curl in!

Michael Schiavo hears prolife pleas for Terri's life outside his home.And get this: Soon after the malpractice money came in, Michael had Terri’s cats put to death… he stopped all her antibiotics… and he melted down her wedding ring for cash!

What’s more, he wouldn’t let her receive visits from the cute little doggies that they take through the hospices to cheer up the patients. He put her in a tiny windowless room by herself, and she’s not allowed to have any contact with other patients. She can’t go outside and see the sun. Plus, he turns family photos toward the wall so she can’t see them!

As anyone can see, Michael wants Terri to die – not get better.

In fact, even though he and Terri are still technically married, he’s been living with another woman. In fact, he has already fathered two children with her.

Even Larry King—when he interviewed Bob and Mary Schindler several months ago (September 27, 2004)—couldn’t figure out why Michael insists that Terri must die.