The Triangle

MS. ANDERSON'S RECITIATION OF THE "FACTS" IS MISLEADING:

While I have not represented any of the parties in this case, I am an attorney and I DID review the court pleadings and deposition testimony, and I have to say that Ms. Anderson recitation of the "facts" is selective.

It is my understanding that the radiologist that reviewed the bone scan indicated that some of what Ms. Anderson refers to as "fractures" were "abnormalities" which do not necessarily indicate that there was any kind of trauma. (I was very disappointed to hear Ms. Anderson on a radio show where I heard the show's host put words into her mouth when she tried to explain that the radiologist saw abnormalities not fractures and she didn't correct him; on behalf of all attorneys, shame on Ms. Anderson.) It was also determined (through other physicians) that any minor fractures could very well have been caused by physical therapy or moving Terri around (after her collapse). I suspect if any of us had a bone scan today there would be "abnormalities," especially if we've led an active life, exercising regularly.

Further, it is my understanding that Terri's friends (not family of Michael) stated that Terri would excuse herself and go into the bathroom after she ate.

Also,Terri was going to her OB/GYN to try to find out why she couldn't get pregnant since her periods had been intermittent and then stopped (another symptom of an eating disorder)

Given these facts, combined with her strenuous exercise routine, consumption of an inordinate amount of iced tea in place of eating, and her dramatic weight loss, it is not so far fetched to conclude that she had some kind of eating disorder.

I also understood that the lab results showed that her potassium levels were below normal at the time of her collapse.

ALL of this is indicative of an eating disorder, namely anorexia nervosa/bulimia.

It is intersting to note that while Ms. Anderson claims that there is evidence to suggest that Terri did NOT have an eating disorder and that Michael was somehow responsible for collapse, the defense lawyers representing the physicians in the medical malpractice test NEVER made this argument. I am a defense lawyer; we live to find evidence of an alternative theory of how a victim was injured (i.e., why our client is not responsible). It is hard to believe that the police, the med mal defense attorneys, DCFS (or the Florida equivalent of the agency that protects children and the disabled), and the Schindlers themselves did NOT find any evidence of wrongdoing. In fact, the Schindlers did not make any claims until AFTER the break with Michael in 1995.

My theory: Terri had an eating disorder; she collapsed because of it; her doctors should have seen the signs of this and didn't (thus the court ruling against them); Michael worked hard to find a way to cure Terri (including taking her for experimental treatments); after repeated attempts over several years he gave up (and accepted what the doctors had been telling him for awhile); while he still loved his wife, he became involved in other relationships and tried to move on with his life (years after her collapse); once he became convinced that Terri was not going to be "cured" he wanted her to die with dignity (reaching the decision to remove the feeding tube took him 5 years, until 1998); Michael knew Terri's wishes but didn't act on them until he was sure there was no way for her to recover and live the life that she would have wanted to lead; the Schindlers were angry that Michael didn't spend the award money like they wanted him to (i.e., give some to them, as he allegedly said he would and continue with experimental treatments for Terri); and then the Schindlers were manipulated by third parties who had their own selfish agenda.

It is not surprising that the parents would have had a more difficult time accepting that their child was not going to recover but wanted to hang on to the life that was left, but that doesn't excuse what they have done in this case. Getting the media so involved in a private matter was shameful and I blame those attorneys and politicians who had a completely different agenda for pushing these parents to violate their daughter's memory by showing pictures and videos that I'm sure they know she would not have wanted plastered around the world (not just this nation).

Now, if the parties involved could just move on with their lives and give this story a rest, we would all be better off. It will be interesting to see whether the lawyers involved (on both sides, including Ms. Anderson) aren't already trying to profit from this situation. Has anyone asked her why she ceased to be the Schindler's attorney over a year ago, but is still so involved in this case that she is making radio appearances and posting articles?