Baby Emilio Gonzales dies, while still on life support

[jobycom]

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/05/20/20emilio.html

Emilio Gonzales, the Lockhart toddler whose illness ignited a contentious legal and ethical debate over who decides the course of end-of-life care, died of natural causes Saturday evening, officials at Children's Hospital of Austin said.

The 19-month-old boy died in his mother's arms, said Jerri Ward, her lawyer.

snip

Doctors had diagnosed Emilio with Leigh's disease, a rare neurometabolic disorder that causes the central nervous system to collapse. They claimed that Emilio had no hope of recovery and should be allowed to die in peace by removing life-sustaining measures.

His mother, Catarina Gonzales, and Ward contested that diagnosis, though, contending that physicians should continue treating the boy.

In legal filings, they accused doctors and the hospital of discrimination against people with disabilities and contended that the state law that allows doctors to overrule the treatment decisions of loved ones when conflicts arise is unconstitutional.

[Madspirit]

1. RIP...so sad...n/t

[shenmue]

2. Poor little kid

:cry:

[kestrel91316]

3. I expect we'll see a wrongful death lawsuit from these folks now.

The doctors should have been able to keep him alive!!!!
:sarcasm: