Schiavo autopsy report to be released today

By LISA GREENE
Published June 15, 2005

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Nearly 11 weeks after Terri Schiavo died, the Pinellas County medical examiner plans to release its report on her autopsy today.

The report could reveal further details of the extent of Schiavo's brain damage and whether there was any physical evidence she was abused.

Schiavo died March 31, 13 days after her feeding tube was removed. She spent 15 years in what most doctors diagnosed as a persistent vegetative state after her heart stopped for five minutes in 1990.

Schiavo could open her eyes and moan, but most doctors agreed she had no awareness of her surroundings and no conscious thought. But Schiavo's parents, and doctors representing them, disagreed. They wanted Schiavo kept alive, and fought a long legal battle with her husband, Michael, who wanted to remove the feeding tube.

Neurologists have said they expect the autopsy to show that Schiavo's brain had suffered extensive scarring and nerve cell death long before she died. But some have said it may not conclusively show whether she was in a vegetative state or "minimally conscious," with occasional slight interaction with her surroundings.

Dr. Jon Thogmartin, Pinellas-Pasco medical examiner, originally expected to release the report last month. But the release was delayed because a neuropathology report done by an outside expert took longer than expected, said Bill Pellan, director of investigations for the office.

"There are some things that are out of our control," Pellan said. He said it was more important for the report to be accurate than speedy.

"It's very detailed and very involved," he said. "I'm sure a lot of people will be looking at the report and the circumstances."