CNN failed to check that Nurses story (Terri Schiavo)

[moobu2]

From Media Matters:

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."

From the courts ruling

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.

Link to the ruling and story about the nurse on Media matters

[Sandpiper]

1. Just because you're paranoid

Don't mean they're not after ya'.

:crazy:

[Demit]

2. So I guess a lot of people at CNN will be forced to resign then?

I now await the great hue and cry across the land for this network which did not properly vet its story. <snark>

[moobu2]

3. What kills me is CNN told the audience in a sort of warning

That nothing the nurse had to say was proven and in fact all the evidence pointed towards not supporting what the nurse had to say...

Why the hell did they let this nurse have a public forum to spread her lies then? <scratches head>

I guess I'm not really surprised but where's the apology CNN???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[blondeatlast]

5. See my reply below for the answer--she does tell a mighty fine tale! nt

[Clark2008]

6. Because then there wouldn't have been a bunch of

sensationalism to keep their drooling audience awake.
Geesch, don't you know anything about bean-counters and ratings? :eyes:

You're right, of course, I'm just pointing out the thinking, or lack thereof, that goes into television news, anymore. It's being run by entertainment officials who know not a whit about news.

[Inland]

8. Putting it on the air while telling us it's completely unsubstantiated

What's the point of that?

[Cooley Hurd]

9. The point is "disinfo"... they don't care if she's credible or not...

...as long as she continues to cast doubt on Michael Schiavo's intentions in the minds of the lazy (as in too lazy to fact-check).

[blondeatlast]

4. "...not even Terri Schiavo's parents sought her testimony in the case."

Speaks volumes, don't it?

That second paragraph you cite is scary poop indeed. It's dead on; for her allegations to be true, ALL of thiose organizations as well as everyone involved would have to be indisputably complicit. A weak link would send the whole conspiracy to the ground.

Sometimes I just wish the media would just once do their jobs. This woman is a grandstander and not to be trusted--but damn, she does tell a mighty fine tale, so let's make her a STAR!

[Cooley Hurd]

7. Kicking - I'm sure she'll be back on today... and tomorrow...

...and every day that Terri's still alive.

This woman is DEE-LUSIONAL...:crazy:

[LynneSin]

10. Is that woman's 15minutes of fame overwith yet?

Seriously - she's another nut job that is trying to capitalize on Terri Schiavo. I can almost guarentee that in less than a year she'll have a book published

[fasttense]

11. Journalism through rumor.

That's what the corporate media does anymore. Instead of working and investigating, they just report rumors. You can't trust them to tell the truth anymore. You have to read between the lines and investigate yourself. What happened to true journalism?

[tjdee]

12. It was 9, 10 years ago! Who cares?

When I saw this nurse, I was like...whoa. Then I realized she was

1)talking about something that happened in 1995/1996. So Terri could have been singing "Ave Maria" at that time, but it would have NO bearing on how she is doing TODAY.

and

2)It doesn't matter *what* Michael Schiavo was saying, because he is still her husband, and still the decision maker in the case.

:grr:

I'm so sick of the continued game playing on the part of the parents' advocates!

[Cooley Hurd]

13. Even 10 years ago, Terri was no better than she is now...

Her cerebral cortex was destroyed the night she fell ill. From that night on, Terri's known nothing - not love, not hate, not even the feeling of sunlight on her face. Nothing.

[moobu2]

14. That's exactly right. Terri's cerbral cortex died the day her heart failed

[blondeatlast]

16. Note that even Ms. Schiavo's parents have distanced themselves.

This wack job is not to be trusted, but as long as she tells her tale, she'll be a STAR!

[CTyankee]

15. Thank you for this because

her appearance on CNN (which I did not see) caused a friend of mine, who is as liberal as I am, to take what the nurse said as true. I will now straighten her out and tell her not to believe anything she hears on CNN without thoroughly investigating it!