Texas hospital AGAIN seeks to take baby off life support. Let's thank Bush.

[sinkingfeeling]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/LAW/04/10/baby.care.ap/index.html

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- As 17-month-old Emilio Gonzales lies in a hospital, hooked up to tubes to help
him breathe and eat, his mother holds him close and cherishes every movement.

Catarina Gonzales knows her baby is terminally ill and that one day she'll have to let go. But it's not yet time, she and her attorneys contend in their legal clash with hospital officials who say it's best to stop Emilio's life-sustaining treatment.

Children's Hospital of Austin has been caring for Emilio since December 28. He's believed to have Leigh's Disease, a progressive illness difficult to diagnose, according to both sides.

The boy cannot breathe on his own and must have nutrition and water pumped into him. He can't swallow or gag or make purposeful movements, said Michael Regier, general counsel for the Seton Family of Hospitals, which encompasses the children's hospital.

Emilio's higher order brain functions are destroyed, and secretions must be vigorously suctioned from his lungs, Regier said.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Delete

[mduffy31]

2. Is it not more merciful to let this baby go in the long run

but it should be at a time of the parent's choosing, not the states.

[jwirr]

4. Yes, one of the safeguards in this nation is that the rights of parents

guardians trumps the government. I have legal custody of my daughter and have a great deal of power when it comes to her care. If the state had custody she would have died years ago of institutional neglect.

[asjr]

3. Oh, the hipocrisy! Republicans

are against abortion, but just wait until the child is born then it is hurry up and kill him.

[sandnsea]

9. Very odd situation

I pushed the Baby Sun story two years ago. During that time, I learned that the right to life people had worked with Bush to write the futile care law. Since that time, a DUer had her sister become a victim of the same law. She contacted the right to life people in Houstin I think, and they were very supportive of her. She said they have a machine like nothing the grassroots Democrats could begin to envision. Instant protesters, media interviews, legal aid, etc. So while the Republican leadership is pushing this garbage, the grassroots doesn't appear to be in agreement. This is a repulsive law to me and I suppose if I had to work with the right-to-lifers to keep it out of my state, I would. Shudder. Just adding that info because this is an important issue if we don't want Soylent Green for real.

[cal04]

5. Judge orders baby kept on life-support

A judge Tuesday granted a family's request to keep their critically ill baby alive, ruling that the boy should not be removed from life-support equipment as the hospital had planned.

Probate Judge Guy Herman set a hearing for April 19 for both sides to present evidence in the case of 17-month-old Emilio Gonzales.

Children's Hospital of Austin has been caring for Emilio since December and says the effort is futile and the child is suffering without medical benefit. It invoked a state law that allows hospitals to end life-sustaining treatment in such cases with 10 days notice to the family.

Emilio's mother, Catarina Gonzales, 23, doesn't believe her only son is nonresponsive and says the boy smiles and turns his head toward voices.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070410/ap_on_re_us/futile_care

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

11. All I can say is

"Judge orders baby kept on life-support" give the bill to the rich judge. Maby the mother can then work off the bill by doing his house-work :sarcasm:

[dogday]

6. Is this part of his No Child Left Behind policy?

cause I think it sucks.....

[sinkingfeeling]

7. He signed the Texas law in 1999 to allow hospitals to disconnect over the

objections of family.

[dogday]

8. I know I live here, and I

was livid... Poor babies die....

[Madspirit]

10. Texan Here

This is a repulsive law. Bush is a repulsive man. He wasn't born here but when he was our governor he screwed us royally. He made this law. He dismatled our mental health system. He screwed us every which way. I hate Bush to the depths of my being.
Lee