Tuesday, March 01, 2005

Details of What Will Happen toTerri Schindler-Schiavo on March 18

An E-Mail received this evening.
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Dear Friend of Terri Schindler-Schiavo,
First of all let me thank you on behalf of Terri for your interest and prayers for her well-being. Those prayers were answered last Friday when Judge Greer extended her "stay of execution" by three weeks.

The sad news is that Judge Greer ordered Terri to death by dehydration and starvation beginning March 18th at 1:00 EST. This would be a horrible death, a pitiless form of execution that wouldn't be done to a pet. Please see the "exit protocol" that was prepared for Terri that reveals how much she will suffer. Below I have included the physical details of what happens to the human body during death by dehydration.

What Judge Greer wants done to Terri is truly cruel and inhumane. Prisoners on death row are treated with more dignity and respect.

But we are doing our very best to prevent this from happening to Terri. We are working in Tallahassee with legislators to pass a new Terri's Law that would save her life and others like Terri. Our coalition is also striving in Clearwater to expose the hypocrisy of Judge Greer and Terri's husband Michael. The legal team is among the best lawyers in the country, and there is still hope in redressing Terri's case.
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Death by Dehydration
As dehydration increases, signs and symptoms develop. These include: thirst, restless or irritable behavior, decreased skin turgor, dry mucous membranes, sunken eyes, and absence of tears when crying vigorously.

Symptoms of early or mild dehydration include:

flushed face
extreme thirst, more than normal or unable to drink
dry, warm skin
cannot pass urine or reduced amounts, dark, yellow
dizziness and weakness
cramping in the arms and legs
crying with few or no tears
sleepy or irritable
headaches
dry mouth, dry tongue; with thick saliva

Symptoms of moderate to severe dehydration include:

low blood pressure
fainting
severe muscle contractions in the arms, legs, stomach, and back
convulsions
a bloated stomach
heart failure
sunken dry eyes, with few or no tears
skin loses its firmness and looks wrinkled (when a bit of skin lifted up stays folded and takes a long time to go back to its normal position)
rapid and deep breathing - faster than normal
fast, weak pulse

In severe dehydration, these effects become more pronounced and the patient may develop evidence of hypovolaemic shock, including:
diminished consciousness,
lack of urine output,
cool moist extremities,
a rapid and feeble pulse (the radial pulse may be undetectable),
low or undetectable blood pressure, and
peripheral cyanosis (bluish color of the skin from lack of oxygenation).
Death follows.

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