News, articles and commentary About ProLifeBlogs.com  

Receive Updates
Enter your Email

 Blogs
News
Organizations
Recent Entries
Topics
Archives

button02b.gif
Blogroll
Blogroll



















 
Futile Care: March 18, 2007
Toddler Forced Off Life Support - Help Needed

Emilio_Gonzales.jpgUpdate: the hospital and doctors are working with the family and should be commended. We've edited some of the language from the email below in response to some of the comments that have been received.

Melanie Childlers, one of Andrea Clark's sisters, wrote the following disturbing message concerning Emilio Gonzales, the 16-month-old boy who is set to be taken off "life support" against his mother's wishes:

Emilio Gonzales is a sixteen month old infant at Brackenridge Children's Hospital in Austin, TX. He has been diagnosed with Leigh's disease. Leigh's disease is a genetic malady which is caused by a lack of functional mitochondrial complexes. There is NO DEFINITIVE TEST for Leigh's disease, and physicians usually diagnose it based on symptoms, alone. There are tests which can back up the diagnosis, but let me reiterate: there are no definitive tests for this disease.

[snip]

This disease is usually treated with thiamin, but these physicians decided to take him off of treatment. It was only when his lawyer, Jerri Ward, insisted that they put him back on the treatment that they did so. These children can live, and often do live, to be about six or seven years of age. This child is sixteen months old and these physicians have decided not to give him a chance at the rest of his life, despite his family's wishes to the contrary.

We have been in touch with the Bishop of the Austin Diocese--Bishop Aymond--who you would THINK would stick up for the life of this little child, ...

Please, also get in touch with Brackenridge Children's Hospital, in Austin, TX. ....

[snip]

Related:

Update: here is a letter written by Diane Coleman, President of Not Dead Yet:
NOT DEAD YET Letter Opposing the Texas Futility Law
Dear Governor Perry,

I am writing on behalf of Not Dead Yet, a national disability organization that fights legalization of assisted suicide, euthanasia and other types of medical killing. The Texas chapter of Not Dead Yet has been part of the effort to overturn the current draconian "futility" statute in your state - an effort that has been effectively stonewalled by the special interests of medical facilities, medical professionals and bioethicists'.

Unfortunately, the latest implementation of this statute can't wait for a change in the law. Emilio Gonzales, who is 16 months old, will die next week when the Children's Hospital of Austin removes him from a ventilator.

According to news reports, Emilio's use of a ventilator lacks "dignity" and merely "prolongs death," according to the ethics committee at Children's Hospital.

As president of this national group, I can tell you that the nation has been watching Texas for some time with increasing alarm.

On behalf of our allies in Texas and their concerned allies around the country, I request you order a "stay of execution" for this young child.

If you need reasons other than simple humanity, here's one that might help: Since Emilio is a Medicaid recipient, he falls under the protections afforded by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Removal of his ventilator - against the express wishes of his mother - violates his civil rights under Section 504. In addition, the due process right to a hearing arises when Medicaid benefits and services are reduced for an individual. If the recipient's parent has even been duly notified of this right, no such hearing has taken place. Any theory that the ethics committee procedure satisfies Medicaid hearing requirements is ludicrous.

But right now, what's most important is a child whose brief life will be snuffed out shortly - and with not even one of the protections that would be afforded death row prisoners.

Please intervene. Now.

Sincerely,

Diane Coleman, J.D.
President Not Dead Yet
7521 Madison St. Forest Park, IL 60130
708-209-1500 ext. 11
www.notdeadyet.org

And, here's a press release from Not Dead Yet:
The mother of this child wants the doctors and the hospital to continue treatment. The doctors say it is "futile" and have started the 10 day clock, that which at the end of these ten days unless the mother has found another doctor or facility to treat her son, the doctors in Austin will discontinue care and he will die. They say care is "futile", the mother says give her more time!!!

Though the medical specifics are complicated and the legal issues byzantine, the disability rights issues are not.

Simply stated the hospital and the doctors are going against the stated wishes of the legally responsible person, the mother, who has stated her opposition to their "godlike" position.

The disability rights movement was founded on the fundamental concepts of "choice and control." Our medial diagnosis shouldn't allow the medical community to override our wishes or the wishes of our legally authorized representative.

A person on death row in Texas gets more protections than the child in Austin is allowed by Texas' "futile care" law. The hospital ethics committee has met and the ten day death clock is ticking.

Ten days and your dead!

We must speak out. There is a bill in the 80th Legislature that would change our current "futile care" law to "treatment pending transfer".

The doctors and hospitals are against it.

This disability community represented by the Texas Disability Policy Consortium has a position supporting "treatment pending transfer".

However while these political wranglings go on, it is likely the child in the Austin hospital will be dead, caused by the arrogance of the medical professions not to listen to the wishes of his mother.

Why are doctors in Texas allowed to override our decisions?

PLEASE ACT TODAY!!! TIME IS CRUCIAL. The Ten day death clock is ticking!

Please contact Texas Governor Perry's office and ask him to give the child in the Austin hospital a reprieve. He can give reprieves to death row inmates. He can save the life of the child in Austin.

The person to contact in Governor Perry's office is Nora Cox:

ncox@governor.state.tx.us

Thank you,

Bob Kafka
NOT DEAD YET of Texas2


Update: Saving Emilio - North County Gazette has more information related to the press release above.

From a reader:

Regarding "Toddler Forced Off Life Support - Help Needed", thank you for your support for the life of the precious toddler. We must be very careful in our statements, however, to avoid misconceptions. The statement " Bishop Aymond's number is: 512-476-4888. Please call him and if you can't get him on the phone, leave a message, letting him know how you feel about the Catholic Church's approval of the murder of this small child" is inaccurate, in that the Catholic Church does not approve of the murder of children.
So noted .... thank you.

Update: we'll send you a daily email notifying you of the latest news:

Enter your Email



Posted by plb at March 18, 2007 2:25 PM

Subscribe with Bloglines

Get our free Daily Newsletter filled with Pro-Life News and Commentary.


Prior Articles:

Trackback
TrackBack URL for this entry (note that all trackbacks from posts without a link to this entry will be considered spam and deleted):
Comments

Here I am in Korea and I don't have a phone! Augh!

But I did pass it on.

Posted by: Christina on March 19, 2007 4:26 AM

I have some trouble with this view. Is not 'life support' also not taking God's will out of God's hands?

I believe it is very harsh judgement to keep repeating that those who are for removing the life support are 'killing' this little guy, who perhaps God wants in His kingdom now.

I do believe in hydration and food, but you are not being specific on what 'life support' includes in this article.

Posted by: dorothy on March 19, 2007 11:40 AM

The Ethics committee said:

The Ethics Committee further recommended that the treatment plan for the patient be modified to allow only comfort measures (such as hydration, pain control and other interventions designed to decrease the patient's suffering ). They decreed that new complications that develop should not be treated, except with additional palliative measures, as appropriate, the patient's code status be changed to a DNR and appropriate spiritual and pastoral care resources should be provided to Emilio's mother and family members.


and also:


It was noted by the committee that the physicians and other members of the treatment team have contacted multiple children's hospitals in Texas, and none of the facilities contacted have agreed to accept him as they believe they have nothing more to offer him and that any treatable conditions affecting Emilio have been eliminated.

It looks like God has spoken. Sometimes we don't like to hear it.....

Posted by: Dennis on March 19, 2007 3:44 PM

Bishop Aymond is the "chair of the USCCB's Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People", according to the website of the Diocese of Austin. He's doing some job protecting this little child, isn't he?

Posted by: Phil T. on March 19, 2007 4:27 PM

"it looks like God has spoken" - I'm sorry, I don't share the same lofty view of the hospital ethics committee.

Posted by: tim on March 19, 2007 4:38 PM

Plus, we are finding out that the hospital may be wrong about him being a candidate for a trach which would enable him to go to long term care.

Further, you don't know what the doctors have been telling the other hospitals.

Posted by: Jerri Lynn Ward on March 19, 2007 5:55 PM

I've tried to explain some of the medical issues in my blog, today. http://www.lifeethics.org/www.lifeethics.org/2007/03/leighs-disease-long-post-on-end-of-life.html

Posted by: Beverly Nuckols, MD on March 19, 2007 9:04 PM

This is truly a heart breaking story. But, after reading the Ethics Committee's report it seems like this poor baby is being kept alive by extraordinary means with no prospect of recovery, and is suffering. I began reading the Ethics Committee's report thinking that I would contact the hospital and the Archdiocese, but when I finished it, I believed that the doctors were acting in the baby's best interest. We should all pray for Emilio and his family. I cannot imagine the pain they are in.

Posted by: Michael on March 20, 2007 11:43 AM

My family has experienced Leigh Syndrome firsthand, and I can think of no word to adequately describe how devastating it is. I was behind my family's decision to remove our loved one's ventilator--she was in the advanced stages of this terrible illness--and it was time for her to go home. There was only so much that could be done, and a long goodbye wasn't going to change that. My heart and prayers go out to little Emilio's mother and the rest of his family.

Posted by: Elizabeth on March 25, 2007 9:48 PM
 
 
Pro-Life Articles
add your site
Viewpoint Journal Jul 23, 2008, 12:23 pm
Verum Serum Jul 23, 2008, 12:27 pm
Rock for Life - MySpace Blog Jul 23, 2008, 1:02 pm
Rock for Life - MySpace Blog Jul 23, 2008, 12:55 pm
Hyscience Jul 23, 2008, 12:37 pm
Four Pointer Jul 23, 2008, 7:36 am
After Abortion Jul 23, 2008, 1:21 am
World Magazine Blog Jul 23, 2008, 11:04 am
LifeSiteNews.com Headlines Jul 23, 2008, 11:21 am
Challies Dot Com Jul 23, 2008, 11:40 am
Wheat & Weeds Jul 23, 2008, 3:43 am
Operation Rescue West Jul 23, 2008, 9:29 am
jillstanek.com Jul 23, 2008, 10:43 am
Chris Dickson Jul 23, 2008, 5:01 am
Birth Story Jul 23, 2008, 2:17 pm
Birth Story Jul 23, 2008, 4:52 am
World Magazine Blog Jul 23, 2008, 8:14 am
Spero News Jul 23, 2008, 8:30 am
RealChoice Jul 23, 2008, 3:30 am
ProLifeBlogs Jul 23, 2008, 8:53 am
Multimedia Pro-Life News Jul 23, 2008, 12:29 pm
Dakota Voice (Blog) Jul 23, 2008, 1:10 am
Christian Newswire: All Releases Jul 23, 2008, 7:30 am
The Common Room Jul 23, 2008, 2:00 am
Pro-Life With Christ Jul 23, 2008, 7:25 am
Mainstream Iowan Jul 23, 2008, 12:10 am
jillstanek.com Jul 23, 2008, 7:38 am
CNSNews.com Headlines Jul 23, 2008, 3:25 am
FREEDOM EDEN Jul 22, 2008, 9:28 pm
My Domestic Church Jul 22, 2008, 11:31 pm
Catholic Fire Jul 22, 2008, 10:14 pm
Adrian Warnock Jul 22, 2008, 11:32 pm
Reflections of a Paralytic Jul 23, 2008, 1:28 am
Adam's Blog Jul 23, 2008, 1:18 am
IrishLaw Jul 23, 2008, 12:49 am
Catholic Fire Jul 22, 2008, 6:02 pm
Apologies Demanded Jul 22, 2008, 5:56 pm
Wheat & Weeds Jul 22, 2008, 5:02 pm
Apologies Demanded Jul 22, 2008, 5:25 pm
The Black Kettle Jul 22, 2008, 12:37 pm
RealChoice Jul 22, 2008, 3:09 pm
Wheat & Weeds Jul 22, 2008, 12:04 pm
LifeSiteNews.com Headlines Jul 22, 2008, 7:20 pm
Catholic Fire Jul 22, 2008, 1:09 pm
The Point Jul 22, 2008, 5:45 pm
Spero News Jul 22, 2008, 6:30 pm
Neocon Express Jul 22, 2008, 10:28 am
LifeSiteNews.com Headlines Jul 22, 2008, 6:21 pm
LifeSiteNews.com Headlines Jul 22, 2008, 6:21 pm
LifeSiteNews.com Headlines Jul 22, 2008, 6:21 pm
World Magazine Blog Jul 22, 2008, 5:02 pm
RealChoice Jul 22, 2008, 1:12 pm
LifeSiteNews.com Headlines Jul 22, 2008, 5:20 pm
LifeSiteNews.com Headlines Jul 22, 2008, 5:20 pm
LifeSiteNews.com Headlines Jul 22, 2008, 5:20 pm
LifeSiteNews.com Headlines Jul 22, 2008, 5:20 pm
Christian Newswire: All Releases Jul 22, 2008, 4:41 pm
The Common Room Jul 22, 2008, 11:00 am
The Black Kettle Jul 22, 2008, 8:30 am
Sprittibee Jul 22, 2008, 9:35 am
LifeSiteNews.com Headlines Jul 22, 2008, 3:20 pm
Constitutionally Right Jul 22, 2008, 11:54 am
Catholic Fire Jul 22, 2008, 9:26 am
BIG BLUE WAVE Jul 22, 2008, 10:21 am
The Black Kettle Jul 22, 2008, 8:13 am
Secondhand Smoke Jul 22, 2008, 6:02 am
My Domestic Church Jul 22, 2008, 10:05 am
LifeSiteNews.com Headlines Jul 22, 2008, 2:21 pm
jillstanek.com Jul 22, 2008, 3:05 pm
Hyscience Jul 22, 2008, 2:35 pm
Happy Catholic Jul 22, 2008, 4:16 am
Happy Catholic Jul 22, 2008, 8:34 am
Guarino Jul 22, 2008, 1:48 pm
Uncle Sam's Cabin Jul 22, 2008, 9:18 am
The Common Room Jul 22, 2008, 8:15 am
OKIE on the LAM Jul 22, 2008, 12:38 pm
Guarino Jul 22, 2008, 1:06 pm
Dumb Ox News Jul 22, 2008, 12:42 pm
causa nostrae laetitiae Jul 22, 2008, 7:40 am
The Anchoress Jul 22, 2008, 12:12 pm
Hyscience Jul 22, 2008, 12:51 pm
FRC.org - Web Log Jul 22, 2008, 12:40 pm
Christian Newswire: All Releases Jul 22, 2008, 12:00 pm
Vital Signs Blog Jul 22, 2008, 5:33 am
Vital Signs Blog Jul 22, 2008, 5:38 am
Uncle Sam's Cabin Jun 17, 2008, 6:03 pm
Uncle Sam's Cabin Jun 24, 2008, 6:46 am
Uncle Sam's Cabin Jul 18, 2008, 1:08 pm
Right-Wing Agenda Jul 22, 2008, 3:37 am
Right Wing News Jul 22, 2008, 12:05 pm
PowerBlog! Jul 22, 2008, 10:56 am
LifeSiteNews.com Headlines Jul 22, 2008, 11:21 am
Vital Signs Blog Jul 22, 2008, 4:45 am
Musing Minds Jul 8, 2008, 12:55 pm
Let Her Live Jul 22, 2008, 7:28 am
Flash Point Jul 22, 2008, 9:18 am
Birth Story Jul 22, 2008, 5:41 am
World Magazine Blog Jul 22, 2008, 8:45 am
The Common Room Jul 22, 2008, 4:00 am
My Domestic Church Jul 22, 2008, 4:35 am
Kevin McCullough's TownHall Blog Jul 22, 2008, 8:45 am
Jack Lewis Jul 22, 2008, 10:11 am
Christian Newswire: All Releases Jul 22, 2008, 8:31 am
Challies Dot Com Jul 22, 2008, 9:50 am
Birth Story Jul 22, 2008, 4:09 am
Birth Story Jul 22, 2008, 4:21 am
World Magazine Blog Jul 22, 2008, 8:25 am
RealChoice Jul 22, 2008, 3:48 am
PowerBlog! Jul 22, 2008, 7:48 am
Operation Rescue West Jul 22, 2008, 7:35 am
Dakota Voice (Blog) Jul 22, 2008, 1:00 am
CNSNews.com Headlines Jul 22, 2008, 3:46 am
The Common Room Jul 22, 2008, 2:00 am
ScrappleFace Jul 22, 2008, 6:59 am
CNSNews.com Headlines Jul 22, 2008, 2:29 am
Life of the Party Jul 22, 2008, 4:22 am
jillstanek.com Jul 22, 2008, 5:48 am
CNSNews.com Headlines Jul 21, 2008, 9:01 pm

 

Disclaimer: The statements and articles listed here, and any opinions, are those of the writers alone, and neither are opinions of nor reflect the views of ProLifeBlogs. Aggregated content created by others is the sole responsibility of the writers and its accuracy and completeness are not endorsed or guaranteed. This goes for all those links, too: ProLifeBlogs has no control over the information you access via such links, does not endorse that information, cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided or any analysis based thereon, and shall not be responsible for it or for the consequences of your use of that information.