Tag Archives: Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network

SCHINDLER: My sister Terri Schiavo was alive like Jahi McMath

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Ethics of  brain death declaration

By Bobby Schindler  — Thursday, January 16, 2014

Much has been written about Jahi McMath in recent days. The 13-year-old Oakland, Calif., girl underwent surgery Dec. 9 to remove her tonsils. She was declared “brain-dead” after going into cardiac arrest.

Since that time, experts have opined on the ethics of the brain-death declaration, the family’s decision to transfer her to another facility, and the involvement of the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network in helping the family.

First, let me make it clear that our organization does not initiate contact with victims and their families or with the media. We did not contact the McMaths. We did not contact any media outlet.

We were contacted, and we responded. We respond because that is our mission — to provide aid, comfort and support for vulnerable persons, and to speak truth to power. No one faces more risk in today’s health care system than our medically vulnerable.

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SCHINDLER: My sister Terri Schiavo was alive like Jahi McMath

Faceless Hospital Board Relents: Jahi McMath Can Continue Her Fight for Life

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Jahi McMathOminous case is only the latest example of government and hospital boards taking private medical decisions away from families

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 6, 2014 / – The parents of Jahi McMath won a key victory in the right to care for their daughter, Jahi McMath. Jahi entered Children’s Hospital in Oakland in early December to have her tonsils removed, and after complications from that surgery, was quickly declared “brain dead” by the hospital only a short time later, despite what her family was reporting as signs of responsiveness. Since that time, Jahi’s parents have waged a protracted legal fight with the hospital to force them to provide even the most basic care for their daughter.

Over the weekend, the hospital finally released Jahi to her parents, who have transferred her to a facility while they wait and watch for signs of improvement in her condition.

“This is a temporary victory in the ongoing fight to protect the right of parents and families to make private medical decisions for their loved ones,” said Bobby Schindler, Executive Director of the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network, and brother of the late Terri Schiavo.

“Sadly, these cases are becoming more common in our current medical environment, where government bureaucrats and faceless hospital boards, in the form of ethics committees, strip away the rights of parents and families to make their own decisions regarding medical treatment.”

Once Jahi arrives safely at her new destination, her condition will be assessed in greater detail, and medical specialists will begin taking steps to hopefully improve her condition.

“Jahi’s fight has only just begun,” said Schindler. “And there are many other families across the country who face similar battles. That’s why it’s so important that people fight back when an ethics committee tries to take away their medical rights. Given our current medical environment, with more and more emphasis on government, we all have reason to worry.”

The Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network is a 501(c)(3) non-profit group dedicated to helping the medically vulnerable who are facing life-threatening situations. For more information, visit: lifeandhope.com

GOVERNOR SARAH PALIN TO HEADLINE TERRI’S DAY

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Memorial Mass with Archbishop Chaput and Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network Award Gala/Dinner with Governor Sarah Palin Highlight Day’s Events

Philadelphia, PA – March 4, 2013 – The national controversy that erupted over the court-ordered decision that ended Terri Schiavo’s life by removing her feeding tube in 2005 has been channeled into a positive effort of awareness, education and advocacy through the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network (Narberth, PA) that supports thousands of families worldwide. Terri’s Day, held April 5 in Philadelphia, marks an annual day of recognition and commemoration.

Archbishop Charles Chaput of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will celebrate “The National Memorial Mass for Terri’s Day” on Friday, April 5th, 2013 at 5:00pm at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, 18th Street & the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. All are invited and encouraged to attend.

Governor Sarah Palin will be the honored speaker at the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network’s Award Gala and dinner following the mass, scheduled to begin at 6:30pm at the downtown Philadelphia Marriott. During the gala, the inaugural “Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Award” will be presented to Moe & Sana Maraachli. The award honors an individual or family that defended the life of a loved one against overwhelming odds. Deborah Flora, actress, producer, radio talk show host and second runner-up to Miss America, will preside as emcee at the gala, which will include addresses from award-winning author and bioethicist Wesley Smith and critically acclaimed author and speaker Brian Gail, plus several celebrity video addresses.

Terri’s Day was established by Terri Schiavo’s family to remember her and foster education, prayer and activism regarding discrimination against the cognitively disabled, and advocacy for people in situations similar to what Terri and her family faced.
“Terri’s life and legacy continue to live on, as our nation is now aware of the immediate threat placed upon the hundreds of thousands of persons with cognitive disabilities,” says Bobby Schindler, Terri’s brother and Executive Director of the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network. “We invite churches to hold memorial services and to educate their congregations about the dignity of every human life, despite any disability or disease. We encourage the media and educational institutions to help dispel the myths and inaccuracies about Terri’s life and death by providing accurate, factual information. And we invite all people to reflect on the ethical considerations of caring for the weak and vulnerable.”

For more information, or to purchase tickets for the gala and dinner with Governor Palin, visit Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network’s website at www.lifeandhope.com.

About the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Award

croppedimage593285-Website-PicTerri Schiavo Life & Hope Network was established by the surviving family members of Terri Schiavo to protect the medically vulnerable. It has communicated with and supported more than 1,000 families, and has been involved in hundreds of cases since Terri’s death. Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network was the recipient of the Gerard Health Foundation Life Prizes Award for its efforts in protecting the value and dignity of the profoundly brain injured.

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Editors Note: Photo and interviews available
Media Contact: Ellen Langas, NouSoma Communications, Inc. Office 610-658-5889; Cell 610-256-2946; ellen@nousoma.com