Texas judge orders brain-dead pregnant woman off life support

[CatWoman]

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/24/22433012-texas-judge-orders-brain-dead-pregnant-woman-off-life-support?lite

[polichick]

1. RIP

[etherealtruth]

2. Mercifully!

the poor family can finally begin their healing

[Dash87]

3. This story in one sentence:

"Wallace was hearing the case after Judge Melody Wilkinson recused herself last week when state election and ethics records showed that her campaign treasurer is also general counsel for JPS Health Network, the hospital's parent company."

$$$

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. It's about time. Let her RIP. n/t

[Thinkingabout]

5. May the family find comfort after their loss.

[geek tragedy]

6. may the grieving family (finally!) begin the healing process nt

[Lithos]

7. Sanity

This has gone far too long.

[boston bean]

8. Thank goodness!

[Ohio Joe]

9. Good

RIP

[cynatnite]

10. Do we know if the hospital is appealing the decision...

I want to know if they're going to keep interfering in the family's wishes.

[CatWoman]

12. from the link:

"Lawyers for the Tarrant County district attorney's office, which defended the hospital, wouldn't comment when asked whether they would appeal the ruling."

[cynatnite]

13. Thanks. I should've went to the link...

I really hope they'll let her body go. It's hard to believe they would inflict such pain on the family despite that idiotic law.

[OwnedByCats]

11. Thank goodness

This should have been done when the family wanted it back in November. I don't understand why a judge had to order the hospital to turn off support - why didn't the hospital do so upon learning the fetus was not healthy? Must be some legal mumbo jumbo I don't understand.


Thinking about the family tonight. RIP Marlise

[cynatnite]

14. I would wait until life support has actually been removed. n/t

[OwnedByCats]

17. Technically

she's already dead, they just need to actually turn off the machines.

[SoCalDem]

20. I sure hope they do not send a bill to the husband

for all their nonsense.

[warrant46]

29. They should send it to the Various churches

Whose sheep are protesting this "loss of life"

[OwnedByCats]

34. Oh I really hope they don't

They better absorb that cost, but I have a bad feeling they will try to bill him/insurance.

[W.J. McCabe]

15. About damn time

It's like a third world country down there.

[kestrel91316]

36. I'm seeing a huge resemblance to the Republic of Gilead.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Handmaid's_Tale

[W.J. McCabe]

38. Well...

I need to read that.

[WillyT]

16. K & R !!!

[Warpy]

18. At last, someone with a brain, compassion, and courage.

Go in peace, good lady. And thank you, Your Honor.

[arely staircase]

22. she has been dead for a while now

Her family can have some peace now that this "right to life" horror movie is over.

[Warpy]

30. I know, I just hope the stupid hospital acts in a timely fashion

so they can complete the funeral arrangements and get on with healing.

The article a couple of days ago on the poor state of the fetus probably contributed to this. Likely the fetus was anoxic too long before she was found.

[arely staircase]

33. I didn't know the part about the pregnancy being the reason for her death

Honestly this has been one of those stories that has just depressed the hell out of me, so stunning it has been in its cruelty to this family.

[rocktivity]

19. CUE THE VONAGE THEME!

Now, it we can only get the Jahai McMath saga to end.


rocktivity

[arely staircase]

21. oh Thank God

What a horrific, just aweful nightmare that poor man and the rest of his family was going through.

[Thor_MN]

23. What idiot wrote that headline?

The judge opened the door such that she could be taken off life support, he didn't order her off life support.

It's about time they figured this case out.

[jsr]

25. "The defendants are ordered to pronounce Mrs. Munoz dead and remove the ventilator and all other

'life-sustaining' treatment from the body of Marlise Munoz," the judgment read.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/25/us-usa-pregnant-texas-idUSBREA0N1RP20140125
Texas judge declares pregnant woman dead, orders life support removed

[Thor_MN]

26. Thank you for proving my point.

The judge ordered the HOSPITAL, not Mrs. Munoz.

[uppityperson]

31. Headlines have to be condensed, words left off, shortened to minimal point

And true, she wasn't "on" life support, more like was "on" a bed being hooked up to mechanical support.

Your post made me laugh, I thought I was nitpicky about headlines and grammar.

[Thor_MN]

32. They could have said it better. The Judge could order her all he wanted, she can't complie.

[riderinthestorm]

24. Hope there's no appeal... nt

[malaise]

27. Thank you judge

Fuck Rick Perry.

[uppityperson]

28. Thank you judge, about time. Peace to the family.

[dembotoz]

35. this isn't over till she gets away from that hospital

[MagickMuffin]

37. Well The Family Still Have To Wait Until 5:00 PM Monday

Wallace ordered the county-owned hospital to discontinue life-sustaining measures to Muñoz by Monday afternoon at 5 p.m. to allow JPS time to decide on whether to appeal.

In a statement, the JPS Health Network said it “appreciates the potential impact of the consequences of the order” and would consult with the Tarrant County district’s attorney’s office.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/01/24/5511776/fetus-in-munoz-case-is-not-viable.html#storylink=cpy

Hopefully the family will not have to continue this fight much longer. Although they should still sue the hospital and the State of Texas, for this whole mess.