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May 14, 2005

Scott Thomas: cognizant and communicative, but does it matter?

Topics: Life Issues

Here's a story just emerging, and sent to us from Purple Kangaroo(The Empire Journal first covered it here and here) about a man with severe brain damage whose wife wants to remove his feeding tube. The man, Scott Thomas, is apparently aware, responsive and able to communicate. Reminiscent of several similar cases, Scott received his injury last November while alone at home with the person who now wants him to die.

"According to Ms. Patton, her son speaks a limited vocabulary, gives affirmative and negative hand signals and has successfully answered questions of where he lives, where he attended school and his situation. She states that he is aware and oriented. She says he has steadily progressed towards recovery since his injury."

Scott Thomas' wife and mother are in a legal battle for guardianship. His wife Eliza wants to move him to hospice and have his feeding tube withdrawn. Scott's mother, Pamela Patton, claims that Scott has indicated to herself and to nursing staff that Eliza tried to kill him by hitting him on the head and that he doesn't even want to see her. According to Scott's mother, Eliza has ordered medical personnel to not give Mrs. Patton or other family members any information about Scott's medical condition.

"In November, Scott's mother received a six-month temporary guardianship of her son but Eliza is now seeking to become Scott's guardian even though he has indicated to nursing staff and others that his wife allegedly tried to kill him by striking him in the head."

A guardianship hearing is scheduled June 3 before Fourth Judicial Circuit Court Judge William Wilkes in Jacksonville."

Mrs. Patton is arranging to have Scott Thomas examined by Dr. William Hammesfahr, the neurologist who examined Terri Schiavo and said he saw signs of physical violence. Personally, I hope Mrs. Thomas will also get opinions from other more widely known and respected neurologists rather than banking on the neurologist who helped lose the Terri Schiavo case and is otherwise relatively unknown.
Apparently the Schindlers have also gotten involved. "Terri Schiavo's family is asking Mrs. Eliza Thomas to err on the side of life. According to them, the dehydration and starvation death suffered by their daughter in March of this year was anything but a peaceful and painless death."
Purple Kangaroo offers, "if Mrs. Patton has already succeeded in receiving temporary guardianship of Scott Thomas in preference to Eliza Thomas, she should have a fairly decent chance of getting permanent guardianship."

This is a story that all of us need to be watching, with interest. It might be a good idea for some of us to continue looking into the issues and make sure that the right information is propagated throughout the blogosphere. It sounds like the mom needs some support. The Empire Journal is good at investigation, but the Blogsforterri team and it's readership is more apt to get the message out.

Cross posted at Blogsforterri

Posted by Hyscience at May 14, 2005 11:05 PM

Posted by: Rev. Sam Greene at May 17, 2005 9:01 AM

Posted by: A.G. at May 17, 2005 10:25 AM

Posted by: purple_kangaroo at May 18, 2005 5:58 PM

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• Scott Thomas: cognizant and communicative, but does it matter? - May 14, 2005