Mark Fuhrman does a decent job presenting the facts, as they are known, pertinent to the collapse of Terri Schiavo in his recent book, Silent Witness. He provides comprehensive background information and describes events chronologically, setting the stage for an evaluation of scenarios that explain Terri’s mysterious collapse. He also dispels myths and inaccuracies held by both those who supported Terri’s right-to-life and others who sided with her husband.

Fuhrman’s goal was to examine from a criminal investigators viewpoint the probable causes that led to Terri’s collapse. He writes,

Despite all the attention her death has generated, nobody seems to know exactly what happened to Terri Schiavo in the early morning hours of February 25, 1990. Some claim it was cardiac arrest brought on by a potassium imbalance that resulted from bulimia. Others suggest she was assaulted by Michael Schiavo. Where is the truth?

The only remaining witness of what actually happened to Terri is Michael Schiavo. And, according to court records Michael has contradicted virtually every element of his description of events. In other words, Michael is not a credible witness. According to Fuhrman, this doesn’t make him guilty of anything except being either untruthful or inconsistent.

The time for an investigation was 15 years ago and Fuhrman suggests that Michael would have cracked:

“I believe Michael Schiavo has such a volatile temper that he could not withstand the intensity of an interrogation or the lack of control he would feel during one. He would confess to whatever really did happen, and the case would be closed within twenty-four hours.”

“Why does someone have to dies before a thorough investigation is performed? If this had been done fifteen years ago, we wouldn’t have so many questions today. And Terri Schiavo might still be alive.”

Yet, Fuhrman’s detailed interviews and investigations do provide surprises that even the most faithful followers of the case will find of interest.

Among the most valuable elements of the book is the revelation of an agenda on the part of Michael Schiavo to end Terri’s life following a successful malpractice lawsuit that was motivated by the future financial burden of carrying for his wife.

It is abundantly clear that as soon as he received the medical malpractice aware, Michael Schiavo began a relentless campaign to end Terri’s life.

“... the Florida legislature was lobbied by several individuals, many of them associated with the hospice where Terri was eventually admitted, and George Felos, to change the requirement that a patient be “terminally ill” before life-prolonging procedure can be withdrawn. In 1999, the law was revised to redefine “terminally ill” patient and allow for the removal of nutrition and hydration from a patient in a “persistent vegetative state” who had not left advance directives.

Whether or not the law was changed to specifically include Terri Schiavo, as some claim, it certainly applied to her case, at least if medical exerts determined that Terri was in a “persistent vegetative state”.

Please, buy the book, read it, and let me know what you think ...

• National Right to Life Honors Schindler Family - Sep 19, 2007
• Was she killed or not? - Jul 14, 2007
• Schiavo Attorney Speaks Out - Jul 01, 2007
• Another Schiavo Judge is Honored - Jun 14, 2007
• Since When Does Pro-Life Mean Killing the Disabled? - May 07, 2007
• Operation T-4? - Mar 31, 2007
• Not Dead Yet's protest of Terri's murder - Mar 31, 2007
• Lest We Forget! - Mar 31, 2007