CNN, Fox had ex-Schiavo nurse whose affidavit was dismissed as incredible

[madfloridian]

http://mediamatters.org/items/200503230001

CNN, Fox featured ex-Schiavo nurse whose affidavit was dismissed as "incredible" by judge.

SNIP..."On March 22, both CNN's Live From... and Fox News' Fox and Friends aired interviews with Carla Sauer Iyer -- a former nurse for Terri Schiavo who in 2003 submitted an affidavit with inflammatory accusations against Terri's husband, Michael Schiavo -- but failed to report questions about Iyer's credibility. Judge George W. Greer, the Florida circuit judge who has presided over several aspects of the Schiavo case, dismissed Iyer's allegations as "incredible" and noted in a September 17, 2003, order that not even Terri Schiavo's parents sought her testimony in the case.

In both appearances, Iyer was presented as a former nurse for Terri Schiavo. Fox introduced her as a "registered nurse in Florida" who "cared for Terri for more than a year between '95 and 1996." In addition, on-screen text described Iyer as "Carla Sauer Iyer; Cared for Terri Schiavo." On CNN, Iyer was introduced as a "nurse who says that she cared for Terri Schiavo more than a year in the mid-1990s." As with Fox, CNN's on-screen text described Iyer as "Terri Schiavo's former nurse." Another on-screen text line presented on CNN stated that Iyer "testified about Terri Schiavo's physical state." However, according to Greer's September 2003 order, Schiavo's parents had not subpoenaed Iyer to testify.

In both a 2003 court affidavit (posted on the website operated by Terri's parents, Robert and Mary Schindler) and her March 22 cable appearances, Iyer maintained that Terri Schiavo was constantly "alert and oriented" while under her care, "saying such things as 'mommy,' and 'help me.' " She claimed that "Throughout my time at Palm Gardens, Michael Schiavo was focused on Terri's death. Michael would say 'When is she going to die?' 'Has she died yet?' and 'When is that bitch gonna die?' " The affidavit also included her claims that Michael Schiavo expressed the desire to "accelerate" Terri's death, that when Terri was sick and looked as if she might die, "He would blurt out 'I'm going to be rich,' " and the assertion that "t is my belief that Michael injected Terri with Regular insulin" to intentionally make her sick. She claimed in her affidavit that "I ultimately called the police relative to this situation, and was terminated the next day."

Greer dismissed Iyer's charges, noting that they -- along with a similar affidavit given by Heidi Law, another nurse who formerly took care of Terri Schiavo -- were "incredible to say the least" and that "either in the testimony nor in the medical records is there support for these affidavits as they purport to detail activities and responses of Terri Schiavo."

[shadowknows69]

it was total propaganda

Michael should sue her and the networks for slander and defamation

[Nite Owl]

7. I hope he does

Someone has to call them on this stuff. They have to have someone with a right wing position even if they are their only to lie.

[Seabiscuit]

23. I wish I lived in Florida right now. I'd love to represent him.

[Scairp]

26. That's not all she said about him

She said that when he came to visit Terri, he would close the door, and when he left pages from Terri's chart would be missing. If he was really doing that, it is a crime. A medial chart is a legal document, so why didn't she do something when she says pages were missing from the chart? She made no sense.

[sonicx]

1. I fucking love Media Matters.

[Bo]

35. All hail Media Matters!!!

[Freedom_from_Chains]

2. I loved the other "expert" fox had on

Some seriously overweight nurse who stated that she had reviewed all of Terri's medical records and concluded that Terri should be good to go.

Fox is really desperate on this one.

[RCPJAP]

17. People that are in the medical field

know that a nurse cannot diagnose a patient. A doctor gives the diagnoses and all the nurse does is implement the doctors' orders, such as what medications to give the patients and so on.
All these nurses giving their 'expert' opinion is bogus, it is out of their realm of expertise.

[RT_Fanatic]

29. Just asking...

What does this nurse being "seriously overweight" have to do with it? Discrimination against overweight folks is just as wrong as discrimination against gays or minorities.

[ernstbass]

31. Very good question

[TheDebbieDee]

3. Michael Schiavo should also sue the hell out of.............

Sen. Frist. I saw a soundbite at the end oo "The Daily Show" where Sen. Frist casts aspersions on the character and motives of Michael Schiavo.

Frist's words were slanderous and he should be taken to task, maybe even censured, for speaking about another human being that way.

[Stand and Fight]

12. You mean Tom DeLay.

Frist didn't really say anything inflammatory -- DeLay has been out of control though. It is TX Representative Tom Delay in the clip you're referring to, not Senator Frist.

[MADem]

4. The husband has some fantastic lawsuit fodder going on

...should he ever decide to take that route. Between this ditz looking for appearance fees and a second of fame, and the family members who once praised the husband now suggesting, in veiled and dark fashion, that the husband was some sort of abuser, that guy could claim rather easily that he has been defamed.

[rainbow4321]

9. The news said that Fla. Dept of Family/Children is going to court again..

To try and UNseal their records related to Terri S.'s case...is this another attempt by shrub and his bro to get stuff out in the news about Michael S.? Supposedly they are to appear tomorrow but it is expected that the judge will refuse to unseal the records.

[killbotfactory]

5. The right wing is diseased

If there is a hell, i hope they rot in it.

[daleo]

6. You wonder about their motives.

Religious? Money? Crazy? The assertions that Ms. Shaivo was talking in 1995, against all medical evidence cast a large shadow over any of their other claims.

I expect to hear more incredible claims about Ms. Shaivo, though. It will be a point of honor, among a certain type of Christian, to believe miraculous tales about her, the more incredible the better.

On edit - the entire statement of the judge is worth reading:

From Greer's decision:

The remaining affidavits deal exclusively with events which allegedly occurred in the 1995-1997 time frame. The court feels constrained to discuss them. They are incredible to say the least. Ms. Iyer details what amounts to a 15-month cover-up which would include the staff of Palm Garden of Lago Convalescent Center, the Guardian of the Person, the Guardian ad Litem, the medical professionals, the police and, believe it or not, Mr. and Mrs. Schindler. Her affidavit clearly states that she would "call them (Mr. and Mrs. Schindler) anyway because I thought they should know about their daughter." The affidavit of Ms. Law speaks of Terri responding on a constant basis. Neither in the testimony nor in the medical records is there support for these affidavits as they purport to detail activities and responses of Terri Schiavo. It is impossible to believe that Mr. and Mrs. Schindler would not have subpoenaed Ms. Iyer for the January 2000 evidentiary hearing had she contacted them as her affidavit alleges.

[NVMojo]

8. So these stories about Michael Schiavo came from this woman??

Jeez ....

[madfloridian]

10. This is how a man's reputation gets destroyed.

More about the affidavit:
"The remaining affidavits deal exclusively with events which allegedly occurred in the 1995-1997 time frame. The court feels constrained to discuss them. They are incredible to say the least. Ms. Iyer details what amounts to a 15-month cover-up which would include the staff of Palm Garden of Lago Convalescent Center, the Guardian of the Person, the Guardian ad Litem, the medical professionals, the police and, believe it or not, Mr. and Mrs. Schindler. Her affidavit clearly states that she would "call them (Mr. and Mrs. Schindler) anyway because I thought they should know about their daughter." The affidavit of Ms. Law speaks of Terri responding on a constant basis. Neither in the testimony nor in the medical records is there support for these affidavits as they purport to detail activities and responses of Terri Schiavo. It is impossible to believe that Mr. and Mrs. Schindler would not have subpoenaed Ms. Iyer for the January 2000 evidentiary hearing had she contacted them as her affidavit alleges....."

[Lindacooks]

11. What do you want to bet

that this nurse tried to make a move on Michael Schiavo and was rebuffed??

[GoddessOfGuinness]

44. Or she was fired due to incompetence

But they never talk about those little details unless accusations are levied against rethuglicans.

[DetroitDem]

13. not surprising

I saw this lying piece of crap was on CNN today these people will do anything to make this woman a martyr

[madfloridian]

14. CNN and FOX are now equally irresponsible.

And MSNBC is running a close second. I can not believe they both did this with no research, no investigation.

Our media is a big joke.

[cthrumatrix]

21. it's all about propaganda....and lies...has been for some time

[neverforget]

34. I'm shocked their being irresponsible again.

:eyes:

[Lautremont]

15. You mean Iyer is liar?

Good name for her, anyway.

[madfloridian]

16. LOL. Had to laugh at that.

I used to love BJ and the Bear. Fun show.

[rodeodance]

18. I heard some Family advocacy gp in FL is trying to obtain past records

although I am did not catch from where--that have to do with hubby.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

22. did they used to drive a big rig?

i can barely remember it.

[Lautremont]

24. A big red rig - just BJ and his best friend Bear.

If I had photoshop skills I might do something with that picture and another well-known chimp.

[0007]

19. MFG! Could this be Linda Tripp incognito?

[Catchawave]

20. I'm so glad she's been debunked....

...I caught one of those interviews, what a nut job. You'd think the MSM would want to present facts for the public rather than parade these wanks out so the pundits can agree what a horrible husband Michael was. I hope he sues everyone of those programs!

[reality based]

25. The cable channels have grossly failed to inform the public

on this matter. It illustrates why one of our top priorities must be media reform, including a return to the fairness doctrine, breakup of media corporations, disclosures of conflicts of interest, independent media ombudsman access to the airwaves. We cannot have a functioning democracy without reform of our TV and radio policies.

[Rose Siding]

27. Greer's the judge who got kicked out of his chuch for these decisions

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3322524

[madfloridian]

36. Yes, he is.

This thing is out of control.

[warrens]

28. A smell a new Regnery book

If it's a lying bag of pus, Regnery will sign it up.

[madfloridian]

30. And CNN and FOX will promote it.

:hi:

[librechik]

32. On CNN they said they would later have a factchecking segment

about Iyer. Did that happen? I didn't see it.

Also, wouldn't it be great if they did that EVERY TIME they had a speaker on?

[AZCat]

47. Even better...

What if the let the crew from "Pop-Up Video" (remember that?) do the fact-checking during the segment containing the questionable speaker?

[Guaranteed]

33. She said that Schiavo was gleeful upon hearing Terri

was going to die at one point and said "I'm going to be rich!!" in front of everyone.

Yeah, THAT'S a credible story. Because obviously that's what greedy people do, especially when other people are in the room.

[Delphinus]

41. Oh, bullshit!

Not to you, bullgoose, but to the statement. That's ludicrous.

[denverbill]

37. So who will Fox News fire? Rather had to step down for memo-gate.

He used documents that weren't completely verifiable to report on Shrub's AWOL past. Surely when Fox News presents an incredible witness and presents her as a credible witness, that tarnishes the reputation of the whole organization, so somebody should be fired.

[underpants]

38. FEED TERI!

[madfloridian]

39. Will waiting on an apology be a waste of time?

Silly question.

[moobu2]

40. Well CNN was just talking about the nurse about an hour ago

and I didn't hear any apology.

CNN needs to apologize, but I guess I wont hold my breath.

[madfloridian]

42. Well, then, keep this kicked.

And keep it out in the open at least.
:shrug:

CNN is going over to the dark side anyway.

[sakabatou]

43. Hannity interviewed her

Made it look credible... but it being Faux...

[madfloridian]

45. And now John King gets into the fray....

http://mediamatters.org/items/200503230004

"Ignoring constitutional scholars, CNN's John King claimed no one questions Congress' authority to intervene in Schiavo case."

"In an interview with Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, about Congress' intervention to let a federal court review the Terri Schiavo case, CNN senior White House correspondent John King assured Specter that "Congress has the authority . I don't think anyone questions that." In fact, legal scholars from across the political spectrum have questioned Congress' constitutional authority to pre-empt state jurisdiction and intervene on behalf of one party in a particular case."

[Catchawave]

46. Whacky Nurse is on Greta now

spewing her lies and Greta's just eating it up.

[madfloridian]

51. Tonight she had her on? We need to email from Media Matters.

Nervy. I think I will send this link around.

[VegasWolf]

48. Fuck the nurse! Wait! I just saw her face on TV! Abort! Abort! Ugly

warning. Liar warning!

[Catchawave]

53. She told Greta thatTerri laughed, talked and ate?

Creepy people like her are crawling out of the woodwork pushing their agenda. Or that 15 minutes of fame?

I just can't believe "Nurse Ratchet" keeps popping up EVERYWERE, especially that it's so well known that the Schindlers didn't ever use her for that damning testimony against Michael in any of the court cases.

The MSM needs a good bitch-slapping for deceiving the public.

[IowaGuy]

49. I wonder what this ladies past associations and financial relationships

heve been. Would be interesting to follow the money and her various associations to perhaps put a little context into what motivates her...

[allalone]

50. I think they should have added an L before Iyer

did you watch her body language? She was so lying. If I were interviewing her for a job, she'd be a big NO.

[madfloridian]

52. Kick so folks can use the email links from the site.

Since Fox had that discredited nurse on again tonight, they must not be getting enough emails via Media Matters.