Mass. Court Allows Girl's Life Support Cut

[Judi Lynn]

Mass. Court Allows Girl's Life Support Cut

By ADAM GORLICK
Associated Press Writer

January 17, 2006, 1:57 PM EST


SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The state's highest court ruled Tuesday that the state can withdraw life support from an 11-year-old girl who was badly beaten, allegedly by her adoptive mother and stepfather.

Haleigh Poutre, of Westfield, was hospitalized in September after she was allegedly kicked and beaten nearly to death with a baseball bat.

The girl's stepfather, Jason Strickland, asked the Supreme Judicial Court last month to block the state from taking her off life support, arguing that he was the girl's "de facto" parent. He is already charged in her beating and if she dies, could face a murder charge.

The adoptive mother, Holli Strickland, who was also Haleigh's aunt, was also charged in the beating and was found dead alongside her grandmother in a possible murder-suicide less than two weeks later.
(snip/...)

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-life-support-struggle,0,3582079.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[rodeodance]

1. and i hope Congres/Frist et all stay out of this.

[JuniperLea]

3. and Robertson.... and Falwell

Since September? That poor, poor kid. Let her go with the last bit of dignity she can be afforded... then put that bastards ass in jail for life.

[superconnected]

2. poor kid. What a bunch of monsters of adults taking care of her.

hope the guy does get charged with murder.

"Haleigh Poutre, of Westfield, was hospitalized in September after she was allegedly kicked and beaten nearly to death with a baseball bat."

[LisaL]

8. She was such a cute kid too.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/01/17/sjc_state_can_remove_11_year_old_from_life_support/

[Judi Lynn]

21. Thanks. You're surely right. It helps to have a face for the child. n/t

[AnneD]

4. I can't understand this...

there is no rhyme or reason. In cases like this, I just want to send the murders to God for a speedy eternal judgement.

[Ian David]

5. If they do, bring this up... LOUDLY...The Futile Care Law... aka "W's Law"

Futile care law
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

On March 15, 2005, six year old infant Sun Hudson was the first person to be forced to die under The Futile Care Law signed by then Texas Governor George W. Bush. <1>

In December 2005, Tirhas Habtegiris, a young woman and legal immigrant from Africa, was concious and responsive when removed from a respirator and forced to die, against her wishes and against the wishes of her family. Hospital staff refused to wait until her mother could arrive to say goodbye.

Under "W's Law," Texas hospitals and physicians have the right to withdraw life support on a patient who they declare terminally ill, if that patient can not afford to pay within 10 days.<2>

More:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futile_care_law

PS: The Wikipedia article could use some help.

[Wabbajack]

18. Why have I never heard of this before

Dean and Pelosi and Reid should be HARPING on this.

[Ian David]

19. That would require a spine. n/t

[pinerow]

6. Kinda like the kid who killed his parents then

asks the court for leniency because he is an orphan...sheesh!!

[TaleWgnDg]

7. Here's the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court opinion . . .

.

Here's the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court opinion . . . for those so inclined to go directly "to the source" for material instead of "news media" hardbound, internet, or talking-head b.s.

http://weblinks.westlaw.com/find/default.wl?bhcp=1&bQlocfnd=True&DB=MA%2DORSLIP&DOLOCATE=Locate&FindType=Y&LQuery=to%28allsct+allsctrs+allsctoj+allapp+allapprs%29&RS=ICLP2%2E0&SerialNum=2008160199&sp=MassOF%2D1001&ssl=n&strRecreate=no&sv=Split&VR=1%2E0

and if that hyperlink won't come up, then try this link: http://tinyurl.com/7l6jm

This is a representative "state intervention" case of which I have participated for many years representing children. This one sets a Massachusetts legal precedent in favor of the child.

The "right to die w/ dignity" should protect children as well as adults, not through the eyes of some religious agenda.
.

[TaleWgnDg]

20. As a follow-up, there's further information in this DU thread . . .

.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=158x7518

.

[TroglodyteScholar]

9. (delete)

[OKNancy]

10. kick

[DeepModem Mom]

11. CNN/AP: Court: State can let beaten girl die

Court: State can let beaten girl die
Stepfather, charged in her beating, fought state's decision
Tuesday, January 17, 2006


SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts (AP) -- Massachusetts' highest court ruled Tuesday that an 11-year-old girl who allegedly was beaten with a baseball bat could be taken off life support.

The move could lead to murder charges against her stepfather.

State officials had asked that Haleigh Poutre's ventilator and feeding tube be withdrawn after doctors said she was in a vegetative state with no hope of recovery.

Her stepfather, who is already charged with beating the girl, fought the move, but the Supreme Judicial Court ruled against him.

No immediate date was set for the removal of life support, said Denise Monteiro, a spokeswoman for the Department of Social Services. Doctors have said Haleigh would die within a few days without the feeding tube....


http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/01/17/life.support.ap/index.html

[DS1]

12. And Bush hasn't landed Marine One on the hospital helipad because?

:shrug:

[PassingFair]

14. Silly You!

Because when the girl dies, they'll get to kill someone.

Preserving the "sanctity of life" is one notch below getting to kill someone. Don't you know ANYTHING?

:sarcasm:

Death Penalty trumps Schaivo treatment.

On Edit: Just noticed state was Mass.
They prolly don't have DP.

[Lerkfish]

13. paging Dr. Frist, Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine...paging Dr. Frist, Dr. Howard...

funny how terri schaivo was some sort of rosetta stone for them, but everyone else can go hang.

(for non 3-stooges fans, the subject line is a reference to a three stooges doctor skit)

[Hailtothechimp]

15. Because it's Massachusetts. Jebby ain't in charge there.

And plus, this is a blue state. It's easier to rail against this case than to jump in. And he's all about easy.

Come on, Tom DeLay, threaten these judges, will ya??

And Dr. Frist isn't making any diagnosis here.

These Republicans have been defanged. And we can all be grateful for that.

[Orsino]

16. Neocon heads must be exploding.

They don't get to execute anybody until they take the kid off life support.

Didn't Kirk kill a few evil computers with conundrums like this?

[stepnw1f]

17. It's Not Like they Really Care About That Kid

These people pretend to give a damn... that's why their arguments are so blatantly backwards.