Thursday, March 31, 2005
Autopsy decision never was up to Michael Schiavo
BlogsForTerri has found a very funny (funny not as in ha-ha-ha, but as in "what smells so funny in the fridge?") thing--seems the "hero" Michael Schiavo was never really in charge of deciding whether or not to allow an autopsy. Which is something I should have realized if I'd thought it through, I suppose. It just seems that he is such an all-powerful figure in this case, to the point of demanding--and getting--armed police guards surrounding any visitor to Terri's room that Michael himself doesn't like, such as the Catholic Monsignor. (For non-Catholics, a Monsignor is a priest who has risen through the ranks--the next steps up are Bishop, Archbishop, and Cardinal. The Pope is elected from the ranks of Cardinals.)
"He doesn't have any choice in the matter,'' said Bill Pellan, director of investigations for the Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner's Office. Medical Examiner Jon Thogmartin decides when an autopsy is required under state law, Pellan said.
"He doesn't have any choice in the matter,'' said Bill Pellan, director of investigations for the Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner's Office. Medical Examiner Jon Thogmartin decides when an autopsy is required under state law, Pellan said.
