Terri: The Truth [Hardcover]

Michael Schiavo (Author), Michael Hirsh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 27, 2006

Even though this is a hard cover book it has a protective cover with the details of the book printed on it only

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael Schiavo’s epic battle, first to heal his wife, and then to allow her to die with dignity, was front-page news around the world. To care for Terri, Michael became an EMT, then a registered respiratory therapist, and finally, a registered nurse. Michael has founded TerriPac.org to mobilize voters against candidates who have no qualms about interfering in what should be personal, family decisions. TerriPac will also work to encourage everyone over the age of seventeen to have a living will. Michael lives with his wife Jodi, and their two children, Olivia and Nicholas, in Clearwater, Florida.

Michael Hirsh is a Peabody Award-winning documentarian and the author of four nonfiction books, including None Braver: U.S. Air Force Pararescuemen in the War on Terrorism.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult; 1ST edition (March 27, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525949461
• ISBN-13: 978-0525949466
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,031,075 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An eye-opening account of the Shiavo case, October 3, 2007

By 

D. Roth (Bellevue, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Terri: The Truth (Hardcover)

I was reading Faith and Politics by John Danforth, which had a chapter on the Terri Shiavo case, and just happened to run across this book a few days later. I decided to pick it up to learn more about the story.

It was a real eye-opener to learn about the history of this case. The headlines in 2005 gave the public no idea at all of years of medical and legal investigation into this matter before it became national headlines. I look forward to reading the Schindler book to get their perspective on it, though Michael's account is pretty compelling and it will be hard for me not to approach that book without bias.

The book is well written and a quick read. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in know more about the Shiavo case and the corrupt political process that resulted in it becoming a national issue.

24 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Impressive and moving book, July 24, 2006

By 

Elizabeth A. Root (Laurel, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Terri: The Truth (Hardcover)

I found this a very convincing and well-done book. Although Schiavo is telling the book in the first person, he has kept it well focused on the issue of Terri Schiavo's case. I was somewhat surprised, for example, that he didn't tell us more about his studies and efforts to enter medical fields, but on the whole, I think that's best. The book is written almost as if Schiavo is talking directly to the reader. It is extremely clear; he often notes if he thinks the succeeding section is particularly important, or ask the reader to remember a point that he will come back to, without talking down.

I still plan to read other books on the case, but honestly, I will be surprised if they change my mind. The book is extremely well-documented, with quotes from depositions, affidavits, and trial transcripts to back up his claims.

Michael Schiavo occasionally gets a bit venomous and sarcastic, but I can only sympathize after vicious slander and libel that he has endured, not to mention the disgraceful political circus.

I often wondered during the case why Michael Schiavo wouldn't turn care of his wife over to her parents. I say this not because I think it would have kept her alive, but because I think she was effectively dead already. I never criticized him for it, never having been in such an emotionally fraught situation. After reading this, I feel that I understand and sympathize with his reasons.

There are a few things I might have done differently if I had been dealing with the situation, but this doesn't convince me that Michael Schiavo was dishonest or ill-intended. The Schindlers certainly got more than their fair share of days in court, publicity, and government oversight. In the glare of all the publicity, I find it difficult to believe that Terri Schiavo was simply a bed-ridden, perhaps slightly brain-damaged woman who was otherwise alert and aware.

I trust that those who claim that they have attacked Michael Schiavo because of their concern for protecting women from abusive husbands are active supporters of battered women's shelters.

The book includes numerous websites for further information about various aspects of medical and legal issues. Unfortunately, there is no index, which I find quite frustrating when I want to go back and check something.

August 24, 2006

I have now read the Schindlers' book, A Life That Matters: The Legacy of Terri Schiavo -- A Lesson for Us All, which came out at approximately the same time as this. It is interesting to see how the two books use the same witness, Cindi Shook, pp. 105-113 of the Schindlers' book and pp. 179-189 of Schiavo's. One might think that there were two different women.

The Schindlers argue that Terri was not in a persistent vegetative state (PVS). With all the oversight that the case received, they simply don't convince me of this argument. Michael Schiavo would have to have organized and sustained a large cabal of amoral doctors and judges, beginning before the case became famous and he became a poster-child for right-to-die issues, and continuing through a glare of publicity. Even assuming that they had no morals or professional ethics, Schiavo wasn't a politically powerful man, and the malpractice settlement simply wasn't that large, considering the expenses.

I do wish this tragic case could have been worked out with less rancor.

23 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Book, July 9, 2006

By 

A. Mills (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Terri: The Truth (Hardcover)

This book truly made me realize how important it is to hear both sides of the story. I remember at the time that this case was being played out how I couldn't understand why Michael wouldn't just hand Terri over to her parents, and how the media made it appear that Michael had been unattentive and just wanted her out of the picture. Reading this book made me realize how WRONG I was, and how much he really and truly cared about Terri. Yes, it is his version of the events, but so much of it is verifiable (his frequent visits, his fundraising efforts for her, his insistence upon her receiving quality care, his numerous trips to different doctors with her etc.. etc. etc.), and his version of events is so absolutely convincing. There is no question in my mind that he loved her and was carrying out what he believed she wanted. I would very highly recommend that anyone who sympathized with the parents read this book from cover to cover and see if they still feel the same way! I used to really feel for them, but now I TOTALLY understand why Michael didn't maintain a relationship with them anymore, or want them involved in any way. And as for the parents so-called expert doctors who claimed Terri could recover.. Look up those doctors credentials (or lack thereof! - especially Dr. Hammesfahr - the one who made a fake claim about receiving a Nobel price nomination, and doesn't even belong to the American Neurology Association), or their other key doctor who wasn't even a neurologist at all! Read about them in the book and see if you would believe or trust a word they said, or if you would want them caring for you if you developed a neurological problem. Or, learn about brain injuries and you'll discover that the claims they made COULD NOT POSSIBLY be true! It is amazing the lengths people will go to for money, and her parents definitely proved that. (The book explains how and what they did in great detail). Terri would have to be appalled at the actions of her family if she knew what they did throughout the course of this trial. Absolutely appalled! I definitely have a list of politicians to NEVER EVER vote for after reading this book, especially Jeb Bush and every other right-wing fanatic that found it necessary to stick their nose where it didn't belong in this case!