Frankly, I don't see this as much different than her "personal" physician, who has seen her an average of three times a year, five to ten minutes per visit. And who is also not a neurologist.
Dana On Sat, 19 Mar 2005 12:39:09 -0500, Larry C. Lyons <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Many of the legal documents involved are available at findLaw > http://news.findlaw.com/legalnews/lit/schiavo/index.html > > Also I wonder did anyone catch Senator Frist's comments. <sarcasm>He > is some expert diagnostician. He by his profound medical skills as a > heart surgeon has officially diagnosed Terry Shaivo as not having PVS. > All he needed was an edited video tape, no physical or neurolgical > examination required. Such medical brilliance.</sarcasm> > > Frankly I think its a significant lapse of medical ethics on his part. > But what can you expect from someone whose other medical > pronouncements state that you can get HIV/AIDS after being exposed to > the sweat or tears of a victim. > > http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48119-2005Mar18.html > > For those who hate having to use a username and password, here's the article. > > Viewing Videotape, Frist Disputes Fla. Doctors' Diagnosis of Schiavo > > By Charles Babington > Washington Post Staff Writer > Saturday, March 19, 2005; Page A15 > > Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), a renowned heart surgeon before becoming Senate > majority leader, went to the floor late Thursday night for the second > time in 12 hours to argue that Florida doctors had erred in saying > Terri Schiavo is in a "persistent vegetative state." > > "I question it based on a review of the video footage which I spent an > hour or so looking at last night in my office," he said in a lengthy > speech in which he quoted medical texts and standards. "She certainly > seems to respond to visual stimuli." > > His comments raised eyebrows in medical and political circles alike. > It is not every day that a high-profile physician relies on family > videotapes to challenge the diagnosis of doctors who examined a > severely brain-damaged patient in person. Democrats were quick to note > that Frist was getting rave reviews from conservative activists who > will play a major role in the 2008 presidential primaries he is > weighing. > > In addition to the speeches, Frist backed a Senate strategy that > threatens criminal sanctions against anyone who keeps Schiavo from > attending a Washington hearing next week, to which she and her husband > Michael Schiavo were invited early yesterday. > > "I suspect that Senator Frist has his eye more on the Iowa caucus than > the Hippocratic Oath," said Marshall Wittmann, a senior fellow at the > Democratic Leadership Council and former GOP Senate staffer. "This is > clearly the politics of the Republican base." > > Republican pollster Anthony Fabrizio said Frist will doubtlessly win > applause from staunch opponents of euthanasia and abortion, but he may > receive a cooler reception from advocates of states' rights and > limited federal government. "If you want to confirm your bona fides" > with the former group, Fabrizio said, "this is a good way to do it. > But while you're pleasing one segment of the party, you may be setting > yourself up for trouble with conservatives who say 'we don't want more > federal control over this stuff.' " > > Some medical professionals questioned the appropriateness of Frist > challenging court-approved doctors who have treated Schiavo. Laurie > Zoloth, director of bioethics for the Center for Genetic Medicine at > Northwestern University, said she was surprised to hear Frist weigh > in, given that he has not examined Schiavo. "It is extremely unusual > -- and by a non-neurologist, I might add," Zoloth said in an > interview. > > Were Frist rendering an official medical judgment, she said, relying > on an "amateur video" could raise liability issues. After 15 years, > "there should be no confusion about the medical data, and that's what > was so surprising to me about Dr. Frist disagreeing about her medical > status," Zoloth said. > > It is not the first time that Frist has created a stir in medical and > political circles. In December, on ABC's "This Week With George > Stephanopoulos," he repeatedly declined to say whether he thought > HIV-AIDS could be transmitted through tears or sweat. A much-disputed > federal education program championed by some conservative groups had > suggested that such transmissions occur. > > After numerous challenges by Stephanopoulos, Frist said that "it would > be very hard" for someone to contract AIDS via tears or sweat. The Web > site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says: "Contact > with saliva, tears, or sweat has never been shown to result in > transmission of HIV." > > Frist's aides say political considerations played no role in his > actions regarding Schiavo. "His interest in this was sparked solely as > a medical and human rights matter," said Eric M. Ueland, his chief of > staff. "It's time for people to take off the 2008 rose-colored glasses > and see Bill Frist for who he really is." > > Conservative activist Gary Bauer, who made a 2000 presidential bid, > praised Frist's role in the Schiavo case and said he would be > surprised if conservatives of any stripe take offense. "I don't think > there's any danger on the limited-role-of-federal-government > argument," Bauer said, "because protecting life is an issue that > transcends federalism." > > Still Bauer said, Frist's intervention carries political risks because > "the general public has been told she's in a vegetative state," and > voters may view his actions as inappropriate meddling. "But I think he > and others have been so courageous about this" that people will see > them as "willing to go to the mat for one handicapped individual in > Florida." > > Democratic strategist Jim Jordan offered a much stronger assessment. > "It's quackery," he said. "It'd be hilarious if it weren't so > grotesque, how his presidential ambitions and pandering to the right > wing is clashing with his life's work." > > Staff writer Shailagh Murray contributed to this report. > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Get the mailserver that powers this list at http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=17 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:150993 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
