24 January 2014
Last updated at 18:34 ET
Judge RH Wallace gave John Peter Smith Hospital until Monday evening to cease life-saving measures for Marlise Munoz.
Mrs Munoz, 33, was 14 weeks pregnant when she fell unconscious in November. It is believed she had a blood clot.
The hospital had argued that a state law prohibits denying life-saving treatment to pregnant patients.
'Legally dead'
Texas judge orders removal of pregnant Marlise Munoz life support
Erick Munoz had filed suit to end his pregnant wife's life support, arguing she was legally deceased
A Texas judge has ordered a hospital to remove the life support of a brain-dead woman being kept alive because she is pregnant.
Mrs Munoz, 33, was 14 weeks pregnant when she fell unconscious in November. It is believed she had a blood clot.
The hospital had argued that a state law prohibits denying life-saving treatment to pregnant patients.
'Legally dead'
Mrs Munoz's husband, Erick, filed suit against the hospital on
14 January, arguing that life-support efforts go against her wishes as a
paramedic familiar with end-of-life issues.
"Marlise Munoz is legally dead, and to further conduct surgical procedures on a deceased body is nothing short of outrageous," he claimed in court documents.
The court filing also stipulated that, as Mrs Munoz is technically deceased, "she cannot possibly be a 'pregnant patient'" under Texas health and safety codes.
Mrs Munoz, 33, has remained unconscious since her husband discovered her on the kitchen floor on 26 November while pregnant with the couple's second child.
A blood clot has been listed as a possible cause.
Mr Munoz's lawyers subsequently revealed that Mrs Munoz's foetus - believed to be at 22 weeks gestation and to have been without oxygen for some time before medical intervention in November - was "distinctly abnormal", according to hospital medical records.
On Friday, Judge Wallace ruled the Fort Worth hospital must remove Mrs Munoz's life support by 17:00 local time (23:00 GMT) on Monday.
"Marlise Munoz is legally dead, and to further conduct surgical procedures on a deceased body is nothing short of outrageous," he claimed in court documents.
The court filing also stipulated that, as Mrs Munoz is technically deceased, "she cannot possibly be a 'pregnant patient'" under Texas health and safety codes.
Mrs Munoz, 33, has remained unconscious since her husband discovered her on the kitchen floor on 26 November while pregnant with the couple's second child.
A blood clot has been listed as a possible cause.
Mr Munoz's lawyers subsequently revealed that Mrs Munoz's foetus - believed to be at 22 weeks gestation and to have been without oxygen for some time before medical intervention in November - was "distinctly abnormal", according to hospital medical records.
On Friday, Judge Wallace ruled the Fort Worth hospital must remove Mrs Munoz's life support by 17:00 local time (23:00 GMT) on Monday.
Related Stories
From other news sites
-
Reuters UK UPDATE 2-Texas judge declares pregnant woman dead, orders life support removed 21 mins ago
-
Chicago Tribune Judge: Remove brain-dead pregnant woman from life support 22 mins ago
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please leave a comment-- or suggestions, particularly of topics and places you'd like to see covered