Michael: Block Bone Scan Showing Possible Abuse of Terri Schiavo

Bioethics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Nov 19, 2003   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Michael: Block Bone Scan Showing Possible Abuse of Terri Schiavo

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 19, 2003

Pinellas Park, FL (LifeNews.com) — Judge George Greer will hear a motion tomorrow filed by Michael Schiavo that would prevent discovery of information regarding a bone scan conducted on Terri Schiavo that shows she may have been a victim of physical abuse.

While most media outlets have reported that Terri Schiavo collapsed at home in 1990 as a result of a potassium imbalance, Terri’s family has long suspected that the real cause may have been physical abuse at the hand of her estranged husband Michael.

A bone scan conducted on Terri in March 1991 showed she had several fractures and was the victim of "abnormal activity" that caused "previous traumas," indicating she may have been beaten or abused.

Attorneys for Terri’s family had planned to depose Dr. Campbell Walker, the radiologist who conducted the bone scan, on Friday to obtain his further analysis of it.

Michael’s motion asks the court to block the deposition saying that the court has already dealt with the bone scan in previous hearings.

Terri’s parents Bob and Mary Schindler hope the information from Dr. Campbell will help show Judge Greer that Michael is unfit to be Terri’s guardian. A case to change guardianship to Terri’s brother Bob is pending before Greer.

The Schindlers have asked Pinellas County State Attorney Bernie McCabe on several occasions to call a grand jury to investigate the bone scan as well as other abuses during Michael’s guardianship.

At the time, McCabe declined to investigate saying too much time had passed between the collapse and the scan.

Also, doctors other than those selected by Michael’s attorney have reviewed Terri’s
medical records.

"It was found that a heart attack did not cause Terri’s collapse as everyone was led to believe. Rather, according to one physician, Terri may have been a strangulation victim," Pamela Hennessy, a representative of the family, told LifeNews.com previously.

The Schindlers say Michael also wants to remove any possible evidence that could be used to substantiate accusations of wrongdoing.

Michael wants Terri’s body cremated if she dies, which would deny any chance the family has to validate a long-held suspicion.

"Michael has instructed the judge to cremate her body upon her death, which adds even more suspicion to what really happened to Terri," Bob Schindler said.

He added, "We’re trying to stop the cremation from happening if Terri does die, so
hopefully, we get to the process of investigating what may have happened to Terri that evening."

In September, three nurses filed affidavits saying Michael has withheld proper medical care from Terri.

"He’s been trying to kill her — that’s the bottom line," said Carla Sauer Iyer, a 39-year-old registered nurse who cared for Terri Schiavo at a nursing home in 1995 and ’96. She says Terri has said words such as "Mommy," "help me" and "pain."

George Felos, the assisted suicide advocate who is Michael’s attorney, calls the nurse’s statements, "a bunch of garbage." He claims Michael has been insistent that Terri receive the best medical care possible.

Related web sites:
Terri’s Family – https://www.terrisfight.org
Terri Schiavo’s bone scan – https://www.terrisfight.org/images/bonescan.jpg