Terri Schindler-Schiavo: under siege ... again

By Susan Brinkmann
CS&T Correspondent

 
The discovery of broken teeth in the mouth of Terri Schindler-Schiavo in March, 2004, touched off another round of legal battles between the parents of the cognitively disabled woman and her estranged husband, Michael Schiavo. 
“We found molars that were broken off at the gum line and we reported it to different people,” said Terri’s father and former Huntingdon Valley resident, Bob Schindler. “Terri had not had dental treatment in 10 years. For years we have argued in court that she deserves proper medical and dental care, but our pleas have been ignored,” Schindler said.
He reported the broken teeth, which touched off a rash of complaints filed against Terri’s guardian-husband Michael Schiavo, who is living with another woman with whom he now has two children.
Schiavo, who is represented by prominent right-to-die attorney, George Felos, of Pinellas County, Florida, has been successful twice in having Terri’s feeding tubes removed. The last attempt, in mid-October, 2003, ended in an 11th-hour intervention from Gov. Jeb Bush who pushed a bill through the Florida legislature prohibiting the killing of the cognitively disabled who did not leave advanced directives in writing.
Just as the complaints about Terri’s rotting teeth began to reach authorities, Schiavo and Felos struck back. On March 29, George Felos issued a statement to the press accusing Terri’s parents of abusing their daughter during a visit.
“Theresa Schiavo was found by medical personnel to have been the victim of numerous wounds,” the statement read, “five of them apparently caused by a hypodermic needle, with her feeding tube wrapped around her back and an allergy band pulled up very tight on her arm like a tourniquet.”
The statement went on to report that a purple needle cap was found in Terri’s gown, which further suggested that the wounds were caused by a hypodermic needle. Felos made it a point to say that the episode occurred “immediately after a forty-five minute visit from her parents,” alluding to the fact that the Schindlers might have been responsible for the wounds.
Felos concluded his press release by saying that the Clearwater Police Department were investigating, but that anyone wanting more information should contact him.
The Schindler family reacted with shock and outrage. “George Felos sent out a press release Monday evening to every media outlet throughout the country accusing Mary and I of assaulting Terri earlier that day,” Schindler said. “The media picked up Felos’ story and have literally toasted Mary and I.”
Because there was an allegation of a crime, family attorneys recommended that the Schindlers contact a criminal attorney. They retained the counsel of Clearwater attorney, George E. Tragos.
Tragos responded immediately to Felos misuse of the press. “I’ve never in my life heard of anybody issuing a press release announcing a criminal investigation, then saying if you want further information, don’t call the police department, call me,” Tragos said. “This press release was an abuse of the process to gain a strategic advantage.”
Discrepancies in Felos’ story began turning up within 24 hours. “Number one, the Schindlers left Terri at 2:30,” Tragos said. “The police weren’t called until 6 p.m. That doesn’t sound too immediate. Two, Terri was dressed in street clothes when the Schindler’s left and this all was supposed to have happened while she was in a gown. Next, the police sit outside an open door the whole time people visit Terri and medical personnel come in and out of the room while they’re visiting. Now the doctor is saying that he’s not even sure they’re needle marks.”
Tragos also said that no foreign substance was found in Terri’s blood and that all toxicology reports came back negative. “Everything in his press release is bogus,” Tragos said. “Felos tries to control everything, including the Schindler’s visits. He’s using this as an excuse to stop their visits.”
It worked. For more than 49 days, the Schindlers were not permitted to see their daughter — unless they were willing to pay for an off-duty police officer to accompany them. “The irony of this request is that there’s been a policeman sitting at the entranced to her room since last October,” Schindler said.
Felos eventually relented on the police escort request and agreed to let the Schindlers visit Terri on May 23 from 1 to 2 p.m. Only minutes after they arrived, “this girl comes walking down the hallway and announces that she’s Schiavo’s representative,” Schindler said. “And her name is Gloria Centonze.”
Strangely enough, Schiavo’s mistress’ name is Jodi Centonze. “She must be part of the family,” Schindler said, but does not know the exact relationship.
“When we did go in, Terri lit up like a Christmas tree,” Schindler said. “She was so happy to see her mother. Mary went right up to her and Terri started to laugh and starting ‘talking’ — it’s incoherent what she’s saying, but she’s talking.”
Although the secular media routinely present Terri as being in a persistent vegetative state, this is far from decided. Terri is able to laugh, cry, comply with requests, and clearly recognizes her loved ones.
Unfortunately, she has been “warehoused” at the Park Place Assisted Living facility in Clearwater where she receives no rehabilitation, in spite of the fact that a neurologist and former Nobel-nominee, William M. Hammesfahr, M.D. testified that Terri was not in a persistent vegetative state and could be helped with therapy. Doctor Hammesfahr was so sure, he offered to treat Terri free-of-charge.
“Hammesfahr has brought people back who were literally paralyzed from strokes,” Schindler said. “Felos called him a quack and trumped up some charges against him at the same time he was testifying on behalf of Terri. He was eventually exonerated by the Medical board. The whole thing was contrived just like he contrived this business about the needle marks.”
In the meantime, the Clearwater Police Department found no evidence of foul play in the incident. The marks on Terri’s arm were apparently caused by the lift used to move her from her bed to a chair. “Felos was on television just last week and said the police report was incomplete and that there was still suspicion of foul play.”
In the meantime, on May 6, circuit judge W. Douglas Baird issued a summary ruling on the constitutionality of Terri’s law, calling it unconstitutional, which surprised no one. The appellate court is recommending that the case go straight to the Florida Supreme Court but Bush attorneys don’t believe the case is ready for the high court because discovery has never been allowed.
“Michael Schiavo and his mistress would be deposed, his brother and sister-in-law,” Schindler said, the people who said Terri had once spoken about her end-of-life care. “Everything is predicated on Terri’s end-of-life wishes, which the Governor’s attorneys don’t believe exist. They think they were fabricated. If they do get discovery, and it’s favorable for Terri’s case, then they want to go to the Supreme Court, when they can prove that Schiavo was lying.”

Contact Susan Brinkmann at fiat723@aol.com or (215) 965-4615