More on Scott Thomas and the battle over custody and perhaps feeding tube removal
The First Coast News (affiliated with ABC and NBC news) is now covering the Scott Thomas case I mentioned earlier.
They quote Mrs. Patton, Scott's mother, as saying that doctors told her Scott's injuries were not consistent with a fall, but don't quote any doctors--although getting a quote directly from one of his doctors about his condition would probably be difficult or impossible with medical privacy laws.
According to another First Coast News article, the guardianship issue will be heard soon: Patton has temporary guardianship of Thomas until June 3rd. On that day, a judge will decide if she retains that custody, or if Thomas' wife will take control.
The article also says, "Scott Thomas' mother tells FCN his wife plans to put him in hospice and remove his feeding tube if she gains custody of him in two weeks.
In the two conversations FCN has had with his wife, she would not confirm those are her plans.
Thomas is connected to a feeding tube, and FCN got a better look at his condition Tuesday outside his rehab facility.
Thomas is disabled. He can't walk or talk. But his mother says that doesn't mean he can't communicate.
At his mom's command, he gives a thumbs up, smiles, and tracks movement with his eyes."
The fact that the journalist writing the article saw Scott in person and saw him do these things is really good. It means we have more than just his mom's word for it, and it's probably verified on videotape too.
I haven't seen a single article that's been able to verify from Scott's wife, Eliza (or Liza as she's been called in some articles), that she is indeed trying to have his feeding tube removed. It seems that if she has actually appealed to the court to have his feeding tube removed, as several articles have stated, there would be public record of this. It seems like it wouldn't be that hard for a journalist to verify this fact, doesn't it? The only reason I can think of that they wouldn't be public is if they're not made public until after the judge rules on the petition and guardianship. Does anyone know what the procedure is regarding when court records, petitions, etc. become public record?
I would be surprised if doctors or the court would approve the removal of his feeding tube since it seems to be uncontested that Scott's condition is improving at this time. He had his trachea tube removed 6 weeks ago and was moved into a rehabilitation center recently, and his family is just now exploring treatment/rehabilitation options with a neurologist. His mother says he's spoken 3 words since his trach was removed, and has plans for Dr. Hammesfahr to treat him.
The Empire Journal (and several other sources which appear to be quoting from it) says that there are investigations currently open with police and DCF into the circumstances surrounding Scott Thomas' situation.
They quote Mrs. Patton, Scott's mother, as saying that doctors told her Scott's injuries were not consistent with a fall, but don't quote any doctors--although getting a quote directly from one of his doctors about his condition would probably be difficult or impossible with medical privacy laws.
According to another First Coast News article, the guardianship issue will be heard soon: Patton has temporary guardianship of Thomas until June 3rd. On that day, a judge will decide if she retains that custody, or if Thomas' wife will take control.
The article also says, "Scott Thomas' mother tells FCN his wife plans to put him in hospice and remove his feeding tube if she gains custody of him in two weeks.
In the two conversations FCN has had with his wife, she would not confirm those are her plans.
Thomas is connected to a feeding tube, and FCN got a better look at his condition Tuesday outside his rehab facility.
Thomas is disabled. He can't walk or talk. But his mother says that doesn't mean he can't communicate.
At his mom's command, he gives a thumbs up, smiles, and tracks movement with his eyes."
The fact that the journalist writing the article saw Scott in person and saw him do these things is really good. It means we have more than just his mom's word for it, and it's probably verified on videotape too.
I haven't seen a single article that's been able to verify from Scott's wife, Eliza (or Liza as she's been called in some articles), that she is indeed trying to have his feeding tube removed. It seems that if she has actually appealed to the court to have his feeding tube removed, as several articles have stated, there would be public record of this. It seems like it wouldn't be that hard for a journalist to verify this fact, doesn't it? The only reason I can think of that they wouldn't be public is if they're not made public until after the judge rules on the petition and guardianship. Does anyone know what the procedure is regarding when court records, petitions, etc. become public record?
I would be surprised if doctors or the court would approve the removal of his feeding tube since it seems to be uncontested that Scott's condition is improving at this time. He had his trachea tube removed 6 weeks ago and was moved into a rehabilitation center recently, and his family is just now exploring treatment/rehabilitation options with a neurologist. His mother says he's spoken 3 words since his trach was removed, and has plans for Dr. Hammesfahr to treat him.
The Empire Journal (and several other sources which appear to be quoting from it) says that there are investigations currently open with police and DCF into the circumstances surrounding Scott Thomas' situation.
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Posted by purple_kangaroo at 11:38 AM[Permanent link]
5 Comments:
As far as I understood everything, the withdrawing of a feeding tube is subject to a court approval (in Florida) and the only way that is even possible is when the person is PVS.
His wife has probably only voiced the intent of persuing that option when she gains guardianship. Without that I don't think she can even attempt to bring it before court since she can't legally speak on his behalf.
With the doctors' confirmation that the wound didn't appear consistent with the story, it's also odd there's no pending investigation. His wife would probably be a suspect in that which probably would either exclude her from gaining guardianship or postpone that hearing until the investigation (or possible following trial) is over with.
Vanessa, according to TEJ there is a current police and DCF investigation going on.
As I understand Florida law, the only time withdrawl of a feeding tube requires court approval is if someone takes it to court to challenge the withdrawl. I assume that Scott's mother would do that it if came to that.
I did read TEJ and WND but I don't really count those as credible sources and this story would be just one more illustration as to why.
Of course it's a lot more sensational for them to portray and conjure up doomsday scenarios of what could happen and to capitalize off Terri some more rather than do some reporting.
If his mother holds guardianship then something is going on because his wife would be his guardian by default. So either she didn't qualify for some reason or it was voided by a court but of course there is absolutely no mention of how or why. How convenient.
Yeah, I pretty much take what they say with a grain of salt too. :) I'm sure somebody told them that, but not sure whether they actually verified it or not, KWIM?
I PERSONALLY KNOW THE SITUATION WITH SCOTT. THE MOTHER RECIEVED GUARDIANSHIP BASED ON A PENDING INVESTIGATION. ACCORDING TO LAWS IN FLORIDA, THAT JUDGE SHOULD NOT HAVE GIVEN THE MOM GUARDIANSHIP. I BELIEVE THIS MISTAKE HAS TEMPORARY SAVED SCOTT. THE COURT PAPERS FROM THE WIFE DO STATE HER INTENTIONS FOR HOSPICE. SCOTT HOWEVER IS NOT PVS. THE WIFE WOULD PROBALLY SEND HIM TO A NURSING HOME WHERE WITH OUT THEARPY HE WOULD END UP GETTING SICK AND DYING. I MYSELF HAVE ASKED SCOTT ON 5 OCCASSIONS HOW THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED? EACH TIME HE RESPONDS TO YES, IT WAS ON PURPOSE AND YES HE WAS HIT ON THE HEAD, AND YES IT WAS HIS WIFE. NO MATTER HOW I WORD IT THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS THE SAME. SCOTT ALSO HAS BEEN QUESTIONED ABOUT HIS BIRTHDAY, AGE, SCHOOL....HE ALWAYS GETS THE ANSWER RIGHT. SO YOU TELL ME, HOW COULD ANYONE BELIEVE HE SUDDENLY WOULD LIE ABOUT HIS WIFE.
THE WIFE HE ALWAYS DEFENDED IN THE PAST FOR HER STRANGE BEHAVIORS.
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