Outside Terri Schiavo's hospice. (AP)

Getting the Schiavo backstory on the record
ASK THIS | March 25, 2005

When a story becomes as powerful and emblematic as the Terri Schiavo case has, the basics should be common knowledge. But some essential elements have been glossed over, or only reported here and there.

By Barry Sussman

bsussman@niemanwatchdog.org

 

Q. Aside from Michael Schiavo, who heard Terri Schiavo say she wouldn’t want to be kept alive under her current conditions?

 

Q. How much money did Michael Schiavo win in a medical malpractice suit, and what has happened to that money?

Q. Who is paying for Terri Schiavo's care, and how much has that care cost to date?

 

Q. Who is paying the legal fees for Michael Schiavo, and for the Schindlers, the parents of Terri Schiavo?

 

Q. How is Michael Schiavo supporting himself now?

 

Q. What are the financial implications for Michael Schiavo and the Schindlers when Terri Schiavo dies?

 

Q. What are the views of religious leaders of various denominations in the Schiavo case?

 

Q. It was clear in this last round of hearings that court rulings would be appealed as long as possible. Since that was so obvious, what is the explanation for not reinserting the feeding tube in the meantime? Has any judge explained the decision not to reinsert the tube for that period?

 

 

News stories have addressed some of these questions. For example, it would appear that two people, a brother and sister-in-law of Michael Schiavo—not just Michael himself—testified that Terri Schiavo said she wouldn’t want to live as a helpless burden to others.

 

But what has generally been lacking is solid, authoritative and widely shared answers. Part of the problem could be that the reporting of this tragedy has been largely corraled by cable TV, where, with a few exceptions, people say anything they want, not letting facts get in the way.

 

Any story that captivates as many people as this one is by definition important, telling us a lot about ourselves and divisions in society. It is a saga of enormous human interest: tragic, emotional, terribly sad.

 

The Schiavo case is also a hot political story. Evangelical fundamentalists and right-to-lifers have seized on the plight of the Schindlers. Republican leaders took extreme positions, trying to order the courts around, while their Democratic counterparts tended to remain in their own sort of vegetative state. Only time will tell how the politics plays out--whether, as some have said, few will recall the name 'Schiavo' in a few months, or whether it will be an issue in people's minds when they vote next year.

 

Here are some stories helping to contribute to the knowledge base:

 

• USA Today, a story laying out how the feud between Michael Schiavo and the Schindlers may be as much over money as principle.  
• An L.A. Times story on the vilification of Michael Schiavo.  
• A Chicago Tribune article that goes into the cost of care for Terri Schiavo. (Registration required) 
• A Detroit Free Press story on the personal side of Michael Schiavo. 
• A St. Petersburg Times story on testimony regarding Terri Schiavo’s wishes.
• A Washington Post story about the network of Christian and other conservative activists who helped support the Schindlers. 
• A Washington Post story about some of the medical finances involved. 
• An Atlanta Journal-Constitution Q&A about life insurance and other issues. (Registration required)

Barry Sussman is the editor of the Nieman Watchdog Project. E-mail: bsussman@niemanwatchdog.org

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