I have no idea at all what, exactly, Luca di Montezemolo means when he says that the news is not good. I’ve read speculation that actually he said something like “there’s no good news”, and that this has been mis-translated into “news that is not good”.
I assume that had Michael died, it would not be a furtive comment by a relatively distant ex-friend that would reveal this to the world.
We are now over two years since the injury. Despite the family’s silence, one can safely assume that were there to have been ANY good news, we’d have gotten it. After all, the family “allows” close friends to make statements (e.g. “he’s still fighting”, etc).
What we know is that two years after a severe head injury, a patient’s clinical status is (with near statistical certainty) not going to change. Given that the family’s own statements define what we call a “minimally conscious state”, this obviously is about as bad as news can be. What else can go wrong?
Because patients in a minimally conscious state have lost many of the body’s built-in “maintenance” functions, their life expectancies are significantly shortened compared to age-matched controls. Highly skilled and motivated nursing and medical care can forestall many or most of these, but they remain constant threats. The kind of things that happen to people in this situation are:
- muscle loss. This is both an expression of the effects of lack of activity, as well as a key factor in several other complications
- pneumonias. MCS is often associated with difficulties swallowing, and ineffective coughing to clear the normal secretions that our bronchi constantly produce. The loss of coordinated swallowing places the patient at risk of inhalation of oral and gastric contents, leading to repeated bouts of bronchopneumonia. This is a near constant in this group of patients, so much so that it’s virtually certain that Michael is fed through a tube inserted directly into his stomach or small intestine (a gastrostomy or jejunostomy tube).
- urinary stones. These are also extremely frequent, and can lead to repeated urinary infections. These infections can lead to septicaemia, and are a frequent cause of hospitalisation.
- pressure sores. Because these patients usually do not move much spontaneously, long-duration pressure on various parts of the body (back of the head, sacrum, heels) can compress the capillaries and lead to tissue breakdown and sore formation. No doubt the extraordinary care that Michael is receiving goes a long way to avoiding this problem.
Long story short? It’s possible that Luca di M is talking about one of the above complications. Anything worse? Could be, but I suspect that should this be a REALLY significant turn for the worse, the family might actually consider the millions of people who pray every day for Michael and say something.
A Former F1 Doc Writes 
It’s so sad today to see that this has been taken to court and is making world headlines. Gary, it won’t be any surprise to anyone who followed your posts at the time. It’s just such a shame that it all has to come out in public this way.
A lawyer for Michael Schumacher has told a court in Germany that the former Formula 1 world champion “cannot walk” following his skiing injury.
Felix Damm was detailing the extent of Schumacher’s injuries in a lawsuit against German magazine, Bunte.
The magazine had reported last Christmas that the seven-time world champion could walk again.
But Mr Damm said that Schumacher, 47, was unable even to stand with the help of specialists.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37406977
Good afternoon Doc.
My name is Alexandra Beny and i’m a journalist from Record Portugal. I would like to know your opinion about the potencial closed cockpits in F1. Although it’s still fiction, from what’s been studied, what effects could have in a pilot’s body? Is it the best solution to avoid injuries?
Thank you for your time!
Dear lollipop
I guess you have really fallen off your trolley .
Even modern medicine cant help you !
Yesterday a new exhibition on Schumacher’s career opened in Germany and I read several accounts last night. This was attended by Sabine Kehm and the family. The quote from Sabine seems to confirm that Michael is still ‘not there’ ie in a minimally conscious state. I guess that Schumacher’s family don’t want the harsh reality spelt out too clearly but are now allowing semi-official snippets of news to get out. Can’t see an apology ever coming Gary’s way, although all medical information here proved entirely accurate – think it is more a question of style and personality than accuracy.
An exhibition on the motorsport career of Michael Schumacher has opened in Germany, as the record Formula One champion continues his recovery from serious head injuries suffered in a ski accident.
Around 200 guests including Schumacher’s wife, Corinna, and their two children attended the opening of the exhibition in Marburg in the state of Hesse on Monday.
“Of course, we miss Michael on days like these,” Schumacher’s manager Sabine Kehm told guests.
“Unfortunately we cannot change what has happened.” Kehm said that all that could be done was to hope and provide support “that he will one day be back again.”
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/02/16/schumacher-exhibition-opens-germany
I found the images of the family completely heartbreaking, but at the same time a tribute to human resiliency. Despite the tragedy that has befallen them, they can still find happiness in things.
The “accuracy” of what I wrote has nothing to do with my skills, but rather shows that medically speaking, illnesses tend to follow known and predictable pathways, at least in most cases.
No one owes me any apologies as concerns my posts about Michael. (The only people whose behaviour should be apologised for are so self-concerned, and so far removed from any considerations of decency and normal comportment that I barely include them in the category “human beings”).
That said, I’m still shocked and dismayed at the number of former “friends” who have turned their backs on me. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not playing the victim card, but rather highlighting the evanescent nature of some friendships, and the sometimes incomprehensible reasons for abandoning them. Let’s be clear though – I’d do nothing differently were it to have happened today.
Respect to you, Dr. Hartstein. You’ve always struck me as a fairly sensible chap, and one whose opinion I rate highly. Maintaining one’s integrity can often be a little harder than it may appear from the outside… and speaking as one feels is becoming even rarer.Thank you sir (doffs imaginary hat).
Ned
Shakes imaginary hand and buys you an imaginary beer!
RE: “That said, I’m still shocked and dismayed at the number of former “friends” who have turned their backs on me.”
That is the way it is.
The phrase “You are alright when you are helping out!” springs to mind…
Life throws at all of us situations, where you find out, who your friends really are!
I completely agree. Dismayed but not lessened. People come and people go. Those who are important always manage to be around. And if the content of what I write so disturbs some, tough noogs (to resurrect a childhood phrase). And if this is perceived as disrespect for someone’s desire for “privacy”, well then those folks and I are simply not inhabiting the same planet.
I shall certainly be visiting the exhibition en route to Frankfurt in April. Just as a way of showing solidarity with Michael.
I don’t know … Can’t help feeling that Sabine Kehm’s statement only adds yet further to the confusion somewhat.
“Back with us”. What does that mean exactly? He has never left us but a statement saying he’ll be back with us can only surely give hope to those who observe his medical condition only casually (and I don’t mean that disparagingly) and “hope” that he’ll be back on the grid or something.
I keep reading articles that say it’s up to the family to deal with things the way they say fit … Which is stating the bleedin’ obvious really …. BUT if the guessing games and rumours annoy the family as much as one feels it must, a time must come soon when a simple, single sentence assessment of his condition be given officially by a medical representative of the family, not by a (not very good) PR person.
Dr Payan of the Grenoble hospital where he was originally admitted maybe. Or bring Gary in from the cold by giving some sort of tacit nod that what he has told us all along has been uncomfortable maybe, but pretty spot on in all medical respects.
I C&P directly from The Telegraph, three paragraphs;
“At the opening of an exhibition in Marburg, Germany, his manager Sabine Kehm said it was important to remind people of the seven-time world champion’s achievements.
“He is the most successful driver in history and sometimes, on days like this, it is good to be reminded of it. Of course, Michael is not here and of course we miss him. We know what has happened and cannot change it.
“We must accept it and hope with everything we have that with continued support and patience he will one day be back with us. Racing was his life and no one would have liked to have been here more than him.”
Full article found here;
Michael Schumacher will hopefully ‘one day be back with us’, says manager
Sabine Kehm gives rare update on Formula One legend amid reports on German’s condition
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/michael-schumacher/12160763/Michael-Schumacher-will-hopefully-one-day-be-back-with-us-says-manager.html#disqus_thread
On a personal note, I am pleased that Sabine Kehm has provided us all with this update.
Having read the statement as reported by The Telegraph, this is how I am interpreting it.
[1] “We know what has happened and cannot change it.”
[2] “…he will one day be back with us.” which Sabine Kehm prefaces with the words ‘hope’, ‘support’ and ‘patience’.
I find this very upsetting for all concerned, but there are these resolute words from Sabine Kehm, ‘hope’, ‘support’ and ‘patience’, that provide an insight into their fighting spirit.
I wish them all well in their private battle.
Maria de Villotta’s untimely death eh?
Now there’s a spot of ambiguous reportage if ever i saw it.
A commitment to truth seeking will often take us out of our comfort zone. Obliging us to admit things we would rather deny or calling us to difficult action.
I’m as thick as two short planks but i recognise a high level of cognitive function when i see it.
Merci beaucoup Monsieur Harstein for ALL things medical.
And thank you for your kind words!
Thanks for your take on this. I’m one of those people who pray for Michael everyday and would love to hear something to be able to know more what to ask for.
This is heartwarming. You should send this sweet comment directly to Michael’s address in Gland, Switzerland. Maybe they break their silence then.A little bit.
Great article as always.I just wish the family would give some kind of update, any kind of update on his condition to the fans. I imagine this post will reignite Jean Todd to come after you again.
As always, your comments and explanations are excellent. My son passed away 20 years ago after a period of time as an “Incomplete quadraplegic”, due to a accident. My Wife is a Critical Care / Oncology Nurse-Manager in a major “Magnet” Hospital, and deals with these issues on a daily basis. All of the conditions you note are correct and to a great degree inevitable. I agree with the family’s “It’s none of your business” attitude, but that should be balanced with the Fact that Mr. Schumacher was and is one of the all time greats of our sport, and he accepted long ago, the fact that he had and has a “Public Persona”. While the family does not “OWE” anyone an explanation, it would show some grace and class to make a clear public statement about Michael’s condition. EVERYONE would understand that to a great extent, they wish to avoid uninformed public comment and gawkers. But at the same time, the almost “Top-Secret” concealment of information leads directly to speculation and un-necessary comments. By doing what they are doing, it makes the entire situation worse… exactly the opposite of what they would like. To quote you, “The Family might actually consider the millions who pray for Michael every day….”
I’ve seen speculation on other sites that the family will only ever issue a statement well after Michael is dead and buried, which makes sense to me knowing the family’s determination to keep things secret. Whenever this happens, whether sooner or later, I hope they allow the fans to acknowledge his passing in some way. There seem to be lots of hints that things are not going well – Jean Todt was questioned whilst giving the Sid Watkins memorial lecture and said how painful it was seeing Michael in his present state but he felt he was like family and had to be there for him. Only a deluded fan could possibly think this is going to end happily now.
Hi Gary, another great article, thanks for your insight. I appreciate this is a partial ‘thread hijack’, but am not sure otherwise how to ask you. I wondered if you could shed any light on what the possible complications would be from a brain injury, that would cause a cardiac arrest 12 months on from the initial recovery? I refer of course to Maria. I was surprised a heat attack could be caused so long after the original incident. Thanks as always. Phil.
Astonishingly (to me), you are the first person to have asked this question. My slant? I’m convinced that Maria took her own life. A devastating consequence of what was a very severe injury, from numerous points of view. This is totally compatible with the content of the contemporaneous press releases.
Had Maria been hospitalised just prior to her death, one could have postulated an infection of some sort. Remember that her injury involved the upper nasal passages, some of the sinuses, and was a very complex wound, creating the possibility of entry points from the outside to the intracranial area, one of the most tightly defended parts of the body. But there is no evidence that she fell ill before passing away.
Let’s also keep in mind that Maria’s injury involved the frontal lobes, the part of the brain that is involved with inhibition of impulses, calculation of consequences, judgement of appropriateness, etc. Let’s also remember that depression is common after severe injury of all sorts.
RIP Maria.
Thank you for the reply.
Wow, you know, that had never occurred to me. That makes it even more tragic than it already was. In the next few months, I have to have a major operation on my neck and obviously, there are risks, and I have wondered to myself about how I will cope if there’s a ‘life-changing complication’. I am mostly a musician, and I really don’t know how I’d handle it if I lost the ability to make music, never mind losing all sorts of normal functions… In a small way, perhaps this is similar to how Maria felt, losing the ability to indulge her passion of being a race car driver, and with all the other issues she must have had to deal with, I can see how, maybe, it all became just too much.
Thanks for your opinion Gary. As is often the case, it’s a bit of an eye-opener.
Ned
Wait… you’re basically accusing everyone involved from the police, to her family, to the coroners of lying about her cause of death? Well that’s a new one. I was well aware you were rather questionable in previous statements surrounding the Bianchi incident, as well as being obsessively bitter about your former employers, but this is a fair bit beyond that. Maybe now people will realize why you got shitcanned and stop rallying behind you every time you open your mouthflaps.
So much stupidity in such a small volume. I’m impressed with what I might call your comment’s “idiocy density”. Tell you what – find another blog to read (perhaps one with a lot of pictures?), and stay the fuck away from mine.
One of the things I appreciate in Gary is that he says what he thinks. And we all know how many troubles he’s passing for that (I’m the same kind, btw). Some may be shocking, like this one, but we asked for his opinion and this is what we’re getting. I admit I never thought about this point of view, that is very sad, but it doesn’t sound that crazy. Rest in peace, María.
Ever since Schumacher you toed the line with what’s appropriate speculation on someone’s case, you know close to nothing about. But now you crossed it by accusing everyone involved in Maria’s case of conspiracy and falsifying official records without a single shred of proof.
I hope this will open a few eyes here on what kind of person and doctor you are.
Two recommendations: 1) actually READ what I write and 2) maybe keep your reading to rather . . . simpler subjects.
There are no accusations, and if you’d bothered to actually LOOK at the press releases at the time, they all say that Maria died from the consequences of her head injury. My OPINION (and it is clearly stated to be only that) in no way contradicts that. Had you actually UNDERSTOOD what I wrote you’d realize that.
That’s one rotten thing to say. You have zero insight into her case, yet you think you know better and that it’s appropriate to accuse everyone involved in conspiracy and falsifying documents.
What documents? Have you seen any?
I’ve just read a BBC freedom of information request article about the HSE report into Maria’s crash. This revealed that Maria was fighting her car’s computer controls moments before she crashed into the lorry. No-one is going to be prosecuted but as Marussia said it was relying on the skill and experience of the driver I wonder if it has any relevance to the Bianchi crash.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-33248493
Don’t understand the vitriol here for you Doc I always felt the same in relation to Maria’s case & felt that the reporting on it said the same – if between the lines. its not that uncommon to leave out the by their own hand & just insert the actual cause of death – no falsification required. Not that it matters RIP
Curious the level of viciousness! Glad to see you share my view of this and the fact that that in no way contradicts what was said.
The reaction is because there is still an enormous stigma attached to suicide. Was Maria Catholic? Would have been even worse if so. When my brother-in-law hanged himself the evidence was about as clear cut as could be imagined and yet the family, when giving evidence were all instructed to try to make it look like it could have been an accident.
What about the 9/11 criticism of people who jumped from the Towers rather than passively wait for death? We don’t want to believe certain things – you made me wonder though Gary. I read at the time that she had a brain haemorrhage in her sleep. Who knows? I believe that usually people stop breathing before the heart stops in a brain injury and so perfectly possible that Gary is right.
I ‘ve no idea what happened to Maria di Villota but Gary Hartstein’s responses (‘So much stupidity in such a small volume’) are very poor. They read like the comments of a petulant twelve year old on reddit. Completely inappropriate for someone who is apparently still employed as a doctor and in whose judgement people are meant to trust.
Gutted you don’t like my responses. I’ll do my best to please you from now on.
@Stuart: “ ‘So much stupidity in such a small volume’ are very poor.” Thought it excellent myself. So you and ‘Taco’ ask for your money back. Taco’s post says much about the person he is, not Gary. Gracious of him to even print Taco’s, most would round-file such.
We are privileged that one so uniquely accomplished and experienced bothers to put in the time to share his thoughts. And if you respond to_that_ you might also let us know how many others of Gary’s CV do this? Would you if you had his experience? And would you continue after thugs tried to undermine your very livelihood for what you wrote here? Going silent would be easy and understandable. If too much you don’t care for here, why come instead of focusing on that which adds value in your life.
Thanks for writing, for your words. Really really appreciated!
I want to second the words of CH, posted here somewhere, and also Gary’s comments regarding the curious nature of the vitriol directed at him on this thread. Are these people actually reading Gary’s posts in an objective fashion, or do they have an axe to grind…? Seems very odd to me. People, it’s an OPINION, nobody has been slandered or defamed, nobody has been accused of anything. Generally, the folks that post comments here seem to be a well-informed and reasonable bunch, but this trend for ‘Gary bashing’ makes me wonder a few things, not least that someone is working to an agenda, currently hidden from view… Where’s me tin-foil hat?
Ned
My tinfoil helmet is double thick. Never can be too careful!
Honestly, I always believed Maria took her own life as well; I’m stunned that this thought didn’t occur to people.
I like reading your perspectives, Gary, and don’t think is unprofessional or irresponsible to provide an alternate hypothesis so long as the data support it.
Thanks Erin!
My impression is that the injuries are severe and the chance of recovery to any kind of usable conscious level (ie To be able to function again in daily life even with assistance) is very low.
So I am bemused by the fans that seem to expect a full recovery. Obviously it would be great if I am wrong!
The money to pay the very expensive specialist home care staff and for equipment and procedures, must be flying out of the bank at a hell of rate. Presumably the family is accessing Michael’s own funds via a LPA or similar. (Our LPAs are hidden as in the UK they are effective immediately and not as logic suggests “if necessary” and of course when needed is too late to get one as the subject has to agree and sign all the documents, no then it is an application to the court of protection v expensive by comparison)
My family have instructions to switch me off if I reach a stage where I am not going to recover, from a stroke for instance. If I cannot as a minimum sit here making a nuisance of myself on a laptop, then I am not interested. However I do intend to drag it out long enough in hospital to collect on the bloody Hospital Plan insurance I’v been paying out for half a lifetime.
Well written Dr. Hartstein, This is the most common sense info regarding Schumi I’ve read since his traumatic injury. Thanks for sharing your knowledge in this clear and concise summary.
By the way, this is the original video of the interview: http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2016/02/04/michael-schumacher-montezemolo-non-ho-buone-notizie/2433622/
He says “I’ve continuously news about him and they’re not good”. Of course his words are not so clear to remove all doubts Michael conditions, but i’ll get them like “no progress” rather than “things going worse”.
So no good but also no bad…
About*
(sorry Gary, I should read posts before clicking the button, sorry for messing up your blog).
I would tend to agree with this, and suspect that his words were used as clickbait. Thanks for the link and for the clarification!
Thanks Gary, beside the fact these are just thoughts and guessing, they help us to think about the matter. Comments like Lollipop are useful too, as they help us to remember that world is full of nice people. 😉
As much as I’d like to know more news about Michael, I don’t blame his family. They surely do what they think it’s best for him and for them. No matter how much I care about him, I’m still a stranger and I understand it. I just hope this will end in the best possible, realistic way. No matter how much time it could take. Even if all these months are bringing a lot of sadness to me. 😦
The family is not speaking because Michael’s stubborn ” manager” Miss Kehm is telling them to do so. It’s the wrong decision, and it’s not fair to his Fans worldwide.
Micheal wanted to keep his private life private, but if he could see himself in this situation would he like to keep the silence? I would like to think no. Obviously we can’t ask him so I don’t blame her for keeping the ‘default’.
I disagree with this statement: “What we know is that two years after a severe head injury, a patient’s clinical status is (with near statistical certainty) not going to change. ” The brain is more plastic than that and recovery is stretching out for more years: seven or more. I am a rural family practice doc but can name two people who had MVA traumatic brain injuries: one who started more intensive recovery at Virginia Mason in Seattle, WA two years after the accident and continued to improve. The other went from paralyzed on one side and not remembering any past history to only having a left foot drop when tired. “With the help of specialized rehabilitation, anyone with a brain injury can continue to make improvements in his or her life, no matter how many years have transpired since the injury.” — from links from the VM website: https://www.virginiamason.org/neurologicalrehabilitationservices
In fact, to be more accurate, what I should have said was that the clinical trajectory at two years will, with extremely high likelihood, be maintained. If there is clinical improvement underway, this will likely continue, although to what extent is impossible to say a priori. If, on the other hand the patient’s situation is unchanging at two years, it will almost certainly not change.
….well, in one of mine the clinical trajectory improved at the two year point with more intensive therapy….. so we are closer to agreement….
There are also comatose patients who awaken after decades. These vanishingly rare events do not make the epidemiology wrong, they just highlight that they are statistical notions.
I don’t think that patient was a vanishingly rare event: I think he went to a TBI center that was able to do much more intensive and directed therapy, with a better trajectory of improvement even though the patient was at the two year point.
Thanks for the opinions Gary.
This awful story has been clear for some time that it will not have a happy ending, and in the absence of any comments from the family your considered opinions based on knowledge of medicine are appreciated.
Hey, lollipop, I am one of Gary’s many ‘followers’ and I certainly really appreciate his measured and sensitive postings regarding the problems that any poor soul with Michaels condition may or may not suffer, so wind your neck in, you sure as hell don’t speak on my behalf, like others have said, if only the family would take a leaf out of Mr Bianchi’s book and release a brief statement on a regular basis his millions of fans would be more at ease.
I dare say I speak for many of those millions of fans when I say that a lot of us would be a much “more at ease” if fans like you would keep your unwarranted entitlement complexes to yourselves.
Can’t you just . . . ignore what disturbs your precious wellbeing? Besides the wondrous (and unfathomable) fact of other people’s “complexes” disturbing YOU, the generalization is, as always, a risky leap.
“Schumacher? Ho continuamente sue notizie, e purtroppo non sono buone”
Certainly open to interpretation but could easily mean both ‘the (active) news is not good’ and a resigned ‘I wish I had good news’ sort of remark. I would think Montezemolo might well have to clarify what he meant.
I simply cannot understand why the Schumacher family don’t release some sort of update in his condition. They say it’s none of our business (which it isn’t) but in the same breath say they detest all the speculation.
There ARE millions of people around the world who care about Michael and have followed his career for over 20 years. After 2 years since the accident they surely deserve something more than speculation, claims and counter claims.
It also must be very difficult on Michael’s son and daughter, now both very much in the public eye, to have to constantly be on guard for unscrupulous press who might try and extract something from them about their father’s condition.
All in all a rather strange scenario.
I agree absolutely,
Hi Gary
Thank you for your insightful and considered posts, really enjoy reading them. I understand the family’s need for privacy, in fact if I were in their shoes, I’d probably either be Poor Me in the media to the point of tedium OR doing exactly as the family is doing! I veer wildly between wanting to know more and not wanting to know more, something confirmed would make Michael’s condition very real to me. Your posts are very informative about what Michael may be facing, I read them, understand to the best of my ability and then go back to believing what my heart wants to believe – that Michael is concious, alert and surrounded by the people he loves most in the world. I pray for him and the rest of the Schumacher family every day.
Best of luck to you in your new endevours
Thanks so much for so beautifully expressing the internal conflicts and contradictions we all feel. And thanks for the good wishes! Much appreciated
Thank you Gary – this is exactly why I started reding your blog two years ago. You help us make sense of what little information there is out there, referencing your clinical experience. And you write with astonishing clarity, always. Thank you
Montezemolo says something about “news” and you start listing complications of such injuries? That is very pathetic. You should give up commenting because most of what you’ve written today is rubbish. Trying to read Montezemolo’s mind when its even doubtful he has had any access to Schumacher or his family (visiting for example). He just ran his mouth on the subject and so did you, but I suppose for old people this is common (also Willi Weber recently). Why do you feel compelled to comment on every rumour someone said? For what – two years? Your followers have lost interest and your going on is pointless and insulting to the affected.
Thanks for writing! I sure appreciate the constructive nature of your comments; I’ve no doubt that our fellow readers will too.
Eh … I think you’ll find only YOUR going on is pointless and insulting to the affected.
And why not have the courage to comment under your own name since you take yourself so seriously instead of hiding behind such a puerile pseudonym.
Take it from an old person … Also kown as a grownup … You clearly have a lot of growing up to do.
Well said Peter. My feelings exactly.
I agree, Peter !
Dear Lollipop,
Wrong on all counts, I’m afraid. Do you actually know Gary’s background, or did you end up here by accident? Gary gives his opinion as a medical professional with a great deal of experience, and as far as I can tell, it’s an opinion worth respecting. Almost uniquely among commentators on Michael’s situation, he’s pretty up front about the implications of his condition, whilst not speculating about how it will all pan out. Have you ever had to deal with a family member with such an injury? Many who visit this page have, and I imagine that they (like me) read Gary’s post with some sadness, but with acceptance that all the complications described are the harsh reality of this kind of condition. Also of note is that Gary questioned the quality of the translation, whereas some other websites have unthinkingly gone for the most spectacular interpretation… I hope you’ve saved some of your vitriol for them. Maybe you should take your spite there, instead.
Gary, I know I don’t really need to say this, but pay that sort of comment no mind. I, and mostly everyone else who visits this page, greatly respect what you have to say – indeed, why else would we visit? Thanks for taking the time out of your (no doubt) busy schedule to write these posts, I know that most of us here really appreciate your efforts. Cheers man.
Ned
Thanks Ned!
well said!
Hi Lollipop,
You consider that “two years after a severe head injury, a patient’s clinical status is (with near statistical certainty) not going to change” is rubbish? And you know better? Please tell us – and list your qualifications while you’re at it.
Lollipop,
Having read your words, they convey a message of ‘pathetic’, ‘rubbish’, ‘old people’, ‘pointless’ and ‘insulting’ towards the learned Mr Gary Hartstein.
So the question I have been asking, who are you to be so impolite, ‘lose your rag’, ‘blow your top’?
Are you connected in any way to the FIA, Ferrari or even the family of Michael Schumacher?
Lollipop, who are you?
My spirit of fairness tells me it’s time to stop ganging up on Lollipop. I AM old, or at least older, than many, younger than some. I have been known to speak, and write, rubbish, and I guess literary relativity says rubbish is in the eye of the beholder. I assume Lolli has some axes to grind, and it’s his right to grind them. Once. I also note that he has a “.bg” email address. This in itself is reason to be bitter and angry with one’s fate.
The lack of news I really struggle with – everyone (especially in this case) have the right to privacy and the family has a right not to be hassled/read non-truths in the press.
However, the privileged life they led was paid for by people who bought stuff from the sponsors – us. Do we have some right to know something – probably not, but the lack of information is making people guess/specutalate based on ‘norms’ (and I applaud you for telling us clearly what is the ‘average’ likelihood).
Common decency would mean they release some info to the press. Not pictures ect, but some facts as to how he is doing. No one is going to think any less of him, in fact, there may be more sympathy for his family.
Thanks for your time as ever Gary!!
Thanks, as always, for the informative post w.r.t. to the challenges a typical patient in Michael’s conditions faces, Doc.
As a rule, I tend to ignore any sound bites about his conditions because the family’s approach is that his condition is none of our dammed business. It’s a policy which I support 100% especially if Michael’s condition really is one of minimal consciousness fraught with long term risks, having to deal with that as a family is hard enough without the media and concerned fans hawking around the situation.