When Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) tried to diagnose Terri Schiavo from an hour's worth of videotape — saying that "footage, to me, depicted something very different than persistent vegetative state" — the conventional wisdom was that he was looking at the famous images of Schiavo smiling and seemingly responding to family members.
But today, on NBC's Meet the Press, viewers learned that Frist based his opinion on "court-appointed video by a board certified neurologist who came to the conclusion that she was not in a persistent vegetative state."
That neurologist was almost certainly Dr. William Hammesfahr.
JABBS readers should be very familiar with how the conservative media used Hammesfahr to try to present the "other side of the story."
Viewers of several conservative shows — MSNBC's Scarborough Country, Fox News' Hannity & Colmes and Christian Broadcasting Network's The 700 Club — were not told that Hammesfahr's testimony was discredited by multiple courts for failing to back up his claims with actual facts. For example, a 2003 article in the St. Petersburg Times said that video supplied to Florida Circuit Judge George Greer showed Hammesfahr giving Schiavo 105 commands and 61 questions. The court reported it could not determine whether Schiavo's responses were more than random motions.
Was that the video that Frist watched?
The conservative media pushed Hammesfahr — even falsely claiming he was a "Noble Prize nominee" — to rally the troops against all the things it hates: the dreaded "liberal media," and those "liberal activist judges."
As a heart surgeon, Frist should have done his homework before trying to diagnose Schiavo via video. He should have spoken to her doctors. He should have been briefed that Hammesfahr's testimony had been discredited.
As a legislator, Frist should have known that 10 courts and 19 judges sided with Schiavo's husband and upheld Florida law. He should have known that as governor of Texas, President Bush signed the 1999 Advance Directives Act, which allows a patient's surrogate to make end-of-life decisions — and is consistent with the current Florida law.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Bliffle
Frist was once considered a candidate for pres for the repubs, but he keeps putting his foot in his mouth. Maybe he just has poor judgement.
2 - Shark
Fristenstein is the creepiest motherfucker the GOP has barfed up in a long time. He's George W. with neck bolts.
And dear gawd, I hope he's in the running for the presidency; I need the material.
3 - Bill
Thanks for this - I missed that Frist was relying on Hammesfahr.
BTW, the video taken was not court-ordered.
It was in fact taken by the Schindlers, in direct violation of court order, though they suffered no penalty.
One of the major issues you missed with Hammesfahr is that he operates as an alternative practitioner under Florida law, same as a homeopath or acupuncturist.
Florida law is very generous to alternative practitioners, effectively shielding them from any medical oversight by the Florida Medical Quality Assurance Board.
As long as they disclose the risks of their treatment, they are free to make nearly any claim they wish.
Hammesfahr's disclaimer (reproduced in his disciplinary file) boils down to "don't expect any results"
Once a patient signs the disclaimer and pays him his fees (upfront), they have no chance of holding him to account for the success or failure of the therapy.
Clearly, it's time to amend Florida law to ensure such a critical area like neurology is firmly under the governance of a medical body, not the provance of alternative practitioners.
4 - Kelly
Judge Greer never went to see Terri, not once, and he relied on video. Also, two of the Schiavo doctors also judged her by the video. Cranford looked at her for 42 mins when PVS is a clinical diagnosis and takes days to determine.
Well, I see that Frist is a wuss, not standing by his concern and given in to the Creep crowd.
I will tell you this, you American Morons, Michael Schiavo is on court record Terri could feel pain, and she felt that pain when she was dehydrated to death. Fick you for being okay with that. Damn you all.
5 - Kelly
"One of the major issues you missed with Hammesfahr is that he operates as an alternative practitioner under Florida law, same as a homeopath or acupuncturist.
Clearly, it's time to amend Florida law to ensure such a critical area like neurology is firmly under the governance of a medical body, not the provance of alternative practitioners."
You moron, Hammesfahr is a BC Neurologist! What would you do without the ability to lie and spin.
Asshats, I have no patience for asshats like yourself.
TERRI FELT THAT PAIN OF NO WATER....You are creeps for being okay with that. You really are.
6 - Ebony Ghost
I too, saw the interview. Clearly, there was a TN by his name. Since they were discussing the case of a Florida citizen, I'm curious about what makes this any of his business and why he stuck his nose in it in the first place.
7 - Kelly
Because he is a member of Congress and they voted for De novo because it should have been reviewed from the beginning. The first Judge was corrupted.
No such thing as corruption...right? I wish the jerks that condon killing of Terri would go move to Saudi Arabia. You make me sick.
I bet you didn't know George Felos, the insane lawyer that believes God talks to him as well as brain dead patients, lobbied for the law to be changed so he could kill Terri.
When you drink today, think about how Terri was dehydrated to death, you selfish bastard.
8 - Nancy
Frist stuck his neck out because he thought he could get away with pandering to the virulent pro-lifers; he also suffers from the typical "Physician As Unassailable God" complex, assuming that ordinary mortals are even less likely to question his pontifications as a doctor than they are his blather as a politician. He was wrong on both counts, there, wasn't he?
Kelly - get a grip & get a life. Your ranting impresses no one.
9 - Justin Berry
This issue is one of the rare issues where I disagree with everyone involved on both sides.
First, I disagree with the right the woman had the right to die. Her husband made a very difficult decision and he should not have had to jump through all those legal hurdles to let his wife pass.
Second, I disagree with the left in the way she died. Removal of the feeding tube was cruel and unusual. Euthanasia, death with dignity, or whatever you want to call it would have been the only humane treatment.
If I had to take a side, it would be to keep Mrs Schiavo on the feeding tube until the law was changed in a way that she could be allowed to die without being starved and dehydrated.
10 - david r. mark
Kelly, I'm sorry, but you are misinformed.
I understand that this is a difficult issue. Even those who supported Florida state law had a hard time with the Schiavo ordeal.
There are plenty of arguments that can be made to support Terri Schiavo being kept alive. I always wondered why an arbitrator couldn't have been brought in to cede care and the financial burden of Terri to her parents.
But the autopsy backed the rulings by 10 different courts. It backed the opinion of all the doctors who treated her.
It did not back Hammesfahr's opinion. And Hammesfahr, given multiple chances to provide evidence in court, failed to do so. He had opinions, but he couldn't back them up.
To me, it seems that people with strong pro-life beliefs needed something to hang onto -- and Hammesfahr provided that. It's easier to justify one's opinion by saying, "Look, here's a medical doctor who has treated Terri, and hear what he has to say!" But strong belief can't replace science. And strong opinions -- from Hammesfahr or anyone else -- can't replace evidence.
11 - Nancy
While I still find Kelly's hysterics distateful, I agree with you totally, Justin: I did find the method of dying extremely inadequate. It seemed to me that depriving her of, say, a machine that breathed or provided circulation for her would be one thing, but prolonged starvation/dehydration was quite another matter, even if she was incapable for getting it for herself. I think what drove me to one side vs the other was the revulsion I felt at the grandstanding by Terry Randall & the self-serving creeps on the so-called 'pro-life' side who were using both the parents & Ms. Schiavo for their own agenda. Ditto the politicians, who should have known better, and especially Frist, who proved himself contemptible in this matter, when he could have (and should have) with very little effort behaved like an actual physician and stayed out of what he had not been called to consult.
12 - Justin Berry
I agree the right acted out of desperation trying to hold on to anything to make them appear more palatable to pro-life nuts. That was disgraceful and made a difficult situation worse.
If I contract a terminal illness my wife has orders to take me to Oregon where at least I wont be mistreated to death.
13 - Bill
Even before the litigation between parents/husband started, at least 4 of her attending neurologists had already diagnosed her in a PVS, with no hope of recovery.
At the last trial in 2002, 3 of the 4 neurologists testified she was in a PVS (toss out Cranford if you wish)
Hammesfahr was the only neurologist who examined her that said Ms. Schiavo was not in a PVS, though he admitted he had never treated anyone in her condtion.
And yes, you can be board certified in your field of medicine in Florida and still fall under the protection of the alternative practice statutes, with essentially no oversight or regulation of the clinical claims you choose to make.
Finally, I'll note that Hammesfahr apparently continues to misrepresent himself as a Nobel Prize nominee, in order to promote his experimental, unproven clinical techniques.
14 - Kelly
I am not hysterical Nancy, I am furious at all the mis-information on Terri's case. Those were not Terri's wished to die, okay? Judge Greer ruled on Michael Schiavo's side every single time and anything the Schindler's presented, he threw out of court and laughed in their face. That is the absolute truth of the matter. Something is very wrong with Judge Greer, Terri is not the first women he caused to die. Helen McCall went to him for a restraining order, with proof her life was in danger, and Greer wouldn't give her one. Two weeks later her husband stabbed her to death, mutiple times. Greer took campaign money from Felos and Schiavo. He is the most corrupt and arrogant Judge in florida.
Hammesfahr was nominated by Mike Bilkarus, Senator of Florida.
The brain is made up of 80 percent water. The autospy report said Terri's organs were very dry. What do you think it did to the brain in 13 days with no water. That is what killed her, the dehydration, not the starvation. Terri was brain damaged, nobody denied that. Her condition went down hill when Michael Schiavo denied her therapy to improve. She was just like a severkly retarded person, and she had a right to live her life.
For those of you using this as fodder to slam the Republican's, it is not a R issue. Why don't you get that. Actually, it was the Republicans that changed the law to kill her and the Judge was a Republican.
Whatever, it is sad to live in a country with people that would so easily fall for Hitler tactics, killing the disabled and saying it is OK.
Withholding water to Terri to her mouth was illegal in this country and that Judge and Michael Schiavo should be held accountable.
15 - Kelly
"pro-life nuts"
Gee Justin, I bet you wear all black and paint your finger nails black too. What is the problem about loving LIFE? I don't get this ....pro life nuts?? You mean someone is a NUT if they believe in living? Wow...
16 - Kelly
The autospy did not prove Terri was PVS. That is impossible to prove other than in a clinical setting.
You should have believed her Parents when they said, Terri could communicate with them, in her way. She had her right to live.
Michael Schiavo knew her for 6 years before her collaspe, which he probably caused, and her parents knew her for 41 years. How can you go to the bat for such a criminal loser. He's as bad as OJ, but atleast OJ was quick.
17 - Nancy
And of course, you know better than all the judges, doctors, and others who were intimately involved in the case. Just like Frist. Case closed.
18 - Kelly
Nancy, why are you saying that? Yes, I have the court records and have studied them. Do you know how a court of law works? Judge Greer set the precedence of the case and those other courts did not see what he was presented and threw out. Do you understand what that means? There was no fair review by those courts, that is why Congress got involved. You don't know how crooked Pinellas county is.
Would it hurt you so much to admit that maybe you are mistaken?
Dr Cranford believes brain damaged and Alzheimer's patients don't have US Constitutional rights and advocates starving them to death. Do you agree with that? Yes or No Nancy? Would love to hear your answer.
The Justice Department is still investigating Terri's case, maybe one of these dsys they will do their job and get it right.
19 - Scott
For all of your fire and anger Kelly, you don't really know alot about Terri Schiavo's situation at all.
If you're really up in arms about this, why don't you spread the word to your pro-life friends to support things like stem cell research? That's somthing that could have helped people like Terri Schiavo.
20 - david r. mark
Kelly, once again, you are misinformed.
Hammesfahr's nomination consisted of a letter written by his congressman, Mike Bilirakis (R-FL), who is ineligible to make such a nomination, according to rules established by the Stockholm-based Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet.
Judge Greer did indeed agree with Michael Schiavo. So did 10 courts and 19 judges. They all upheld state law -- similar to the state law signed by GW Bush in Texas in 1999.
You may BELIEVE that Terri Schiavo didn't want to die, but you have no factual basis for it. It's your opinion -- shared by many who call themselves pro-life. You are entitled to it -- it's a worthy opinion for consideration -- but opinion is not enough to overturn state law.
There was no evidence provided in court -- and considered credible -- that showed that Michael Schiavo mistreated his wife at any time. Multiple courts agreed on that point, too.
The way Terri Schiavo died -- withholding of water -- is allowable under state law in Florida. It's the equivalent of turning off a ventilation machine -- something done maybe 1,000 times a day nationwide. Would you convict doctors across the country of denying oxygen to PVS patients? Of course not.
21 - Kelly
I would not have had a problem with Terri dying as she did if those were her wishes. Those weren't her wishes and there certainly was no proof. Schiavo told several people he didn't know what she would have wanted. Later his brother and his wife remember, oh yea, she would want to die.
Funny that you would support a man, Schiavo, that had others attest he stalked them and harrassed them when they attempted to end their romantic relationship with them.
We can go around and around the mulberry bush, I will quit right here [Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor]
22 - Scott
The rub, Kelly, is you have no proof of anything except for what you want to be true! There's so much truthiness in there.
"It reminds me of why I hate liberals and consider them 'brain dead'"
So, you consider living and breathing, normally functioning beings brain dead but not an actual brain dead woman? What's the deal here?
23 - Kelly
"The way Terri Schiavo died -- withholding of water -- is allowable under state law in Florida. It's the equivalent of turning off a ventilation machine -- something done maybe 1,000 times a day nationwide. Would you convict doctors across the country of denying oxygen to PVS patients? Of course not."
Last POST....
DID YOU KNOW THAT GEORGE FELOS, MICHAEL'S ATTORNEY LOBBIED FOR THE CHANGE OF LANGUAGE IN THE LAW SO HE COULD KILL TERRI? MARY LABYAK OF SUNCOAST (woodside hospice where Terri died)...went with him to the FLORIDA HOUSE.
George Felos made a half a million dollars killing Terri, money that was supposed to be used for her care. The autospy did not PROVE she was PVS, as the Florida statute states, you must be in, in order to die. The autospy did prove she was healthy and would have lived another 20 years. George Felos is slick....and he gets the job done. He went Judge shopping for the easiest Judge to do the deed. Rah rah for George Felos!
Schiavo is on court record Terri could feel pain, if you are okay with her feeling that pain of her dehydration agonizing death, I think that is creepy and sick of you.
Stem cell research...don't even go there.
Look how sweet and loving Schiavo is..check this obit out on his mother, and he doesn't list Terri, he lists his concubine, Jodi, and Terri is still breathing. This is the kind of guy you support. I'm done, need to go throw up.
When Clara Schiavo, Michael's mother, died in July, 1997, instead of her obituary listing her son, Michael and his wife, Terri as survivors, the obituary said she was "the devoted mother of….Michael R. and his finance, Jodi of Florida".
The obituary read:
Clara M. Schiavo
Former Levittown Resident
Clara M. Schiavo (nee Henkell), passed away Wednesday, July 2, 1997. For the past five years she was a resident of Seminole, Fla., living formerly for 30 years in Junewood, Levittown. She was the assistant personnel manager for the Gimble Department Store, formerly located in the Oxford Valley Mall, for ten years. She was a member of Hope Lutheran Church in Levitttown for 30 years. She was the beloved wife of William F. and the devoted mother of William F. Jr. and his wife Joan of Mayfair, Stephen O. and his wife Pamela of Fairless Hills, Brian J. and his wife Donna of Newtown, Scott E. and his wife Karen of Indiana and Michael R. and his fiancé Jodi of Fla. She was the dear grandmother of William J., Aleen C., Steven G., Kelly M., Scott R., Lisa M. Thomas M. and Ryan A. She is also survived by her sister, Joan May Enoch of Delran, NJ. Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing Mon., 10:30 a.m. until noon and to her funeral service at noon in the Campbell & Thomas Funeral Home, 905 Second St. Pike (at Old Bustleton Pike), Richboro. Her interment will take place in Sunset Memorial Park.
24 - david r. mark
Kelly, you haven't refuted any of the facts provided. It's just your opinion on top of your opinion.
The autopsy showed that it would have been impossible for Terri to feel pain.
There were people who claimed Terri was tracking things with her eyes -- but the autopsy proved she was blind, making that claim impossible, too.
I know you feel very strongly about this. And I know it's a very tough issue. But until Florida changes its law -- again, similar to the law signed in 1999 by GW Bush when he was governor of Texas -- then your claims that Michael Schiavo should be prosecuted are unjustified opinion.
25 - Scott
Part of AP story on June 15, 2005
"LARGO, Fla. - An autopsy on Terri Schiavo backed her husband’s contention that she was in a persistent vegetative state, finding that she had massive and irreversible brain damage and was blind, the medical examiner’s office said Wednesday. It also found no evidence that she was strangled or otherwise abused."
Sounds like your facts are DOA, Kelly.