WorldNetDaily: Hospital to 'kill' sick woman?
WorldNetDaily has reported that the ethics committee of a Houston hospital has voted to remove the life support system of a 54-year-old woman who is "not in a coma, is not brain dead and wants to go on living" according to her family.
According to a Texas law, a hospital ethics committee can decide to terminate care within ten days after notification, supposedly giving the family time to relocate the patient if they want them to go on living. The law gives the ethics committee sole authority with no review process and regardless of the wishes of the family.
The report states that "in January, Clark underwent open-heart surgery and later developed bleeding on the brain. A ventilator, which the committee voted to remove Sunday, helps her breathe." Clark's sister, Lanore Dixon, told KHOU-TV that the only thing the committee keeps telling them is that [Clark] is miserable. Dixon's response: Well, to me that's a quality of life decision that is up to her and her family. That is not a medical decision."
I couldn't agree more. The decision to terminate a life by removing a life-support system is agonizing for any family to go through. I know. I've been there. Ultimately, though it is difficult, it must be made by the family who knows the patient better than anyone and is not driven by the wishes and whims of an "ethics" committee (lacking therein) or the pressures from insurance companies.
Kathleen McKinley of the blog, Texas Sparkle, spoke with Clark's sister:
Now, the stakes have been raised. Similar to the situation in The Netherlands related to the Groningen Protocol (see my post from January, 2005) in which euthanasia is performed by committee, we are now faced with the same situation in the States. The door has been opened and, according to this story, it is already entering the realm of convenience killings.
Full WorldNetDaily story. For on-going commentary and ways to get involved, check out ProLifeBlogs.
According to a Texas law, a hospital ethics committee can decide to terminate care within ten days after notification, supposedly giving the family time to relocate the patient if they want them to go on living. The law gives the ethics committee sole authority with no review process and regardless of the wishes of the family.
The report states that "in January, Clark underwent open-heart surgery and later developed bleeding on the brain. A ventilator, which the committee voted to remove Sunday, helps her breathe." Clark's sister, Lanore Dixon, told KHOU-TV that the only thing the committee keeps telling them is that [Clark] is miserable. Dixon's response: Well, to me that's a quality of life decision that is up to her and her family. That is not a medical decision."
I couldn't agree more. The decision to terminate a life by removing a life-support system is agonizing for any family to go through. I know. I've been there. Ultimately, though it is difficult, it must be made by the family who knows the patient better than anyone and is not driven by the wishes and whims of an "ethics" committee (lacking therein) or the pressures from insurance companies.
Kathleen McKinley of the blog, Texas Sparkle, spoke with Clark's sister:
I asked Lanore why she thinks the Doctors decided that Andrea should be taken off life support. She said "You know Anrdea has many friends and is part of about a dozen online crochet groups. She loves crafts. But to someone who downhill skis I suppose that doesn't look too exciting. I think the Doctors think her life sucks."From the beginning, I was staunchly opposed to the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube last year not only because of the act itself, ending the life of a human being who was able to live if given basic care consisting of food and water, but also because of the precedent it set. For the first time, ending the life of a person not convicted of a crime punishable by death was considered legal.It all comes down to that in life issues, doesn't it? One person decides another person's life "sucks." And that is that. Is this what we are coming to? Stand up for the value of life. Call St. Luke and let them know how you feel.
The number is 832-355-1000
Now, the stakes have been raised. Similar to the situation in The Netherlands related to the Groningen Protocol (see my post from January, 2005) in which euthanasia is performed by committee, we are now faced with the same situation in the States. The door has been opened and, according to this story, it is already entering the realm of convenience killings.
Full WorldNetDaily story. For on-going commentary and ways to get involved, check out ProLifeBlogs.
Labels: David C. Price
posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 4/29/2006 01:45:00 PM
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