Texas: Baby's Mom Receives 10 Day Notice

The Austin American-Statesman's (statesman.com) writer, Mary Ann Roser, wrote an article on March 13, 2007, "Doctors say they plan to cut off baby's respirator -- Mother has 10 days to find another hospital for son ... " The article is in reference to a 16-month-old who doctors say has Leigh's disease. The mother does not agree with the doctors and anonymous ethics committee that have decided her son falls under the Futile Care Law that gives them the right to discontinue treatment.



The Children's Hospital of Austin gave the 23 year old mother, Catarina Gonzales, the ten day notice and thus far she has not been able to find a facility that will accept little Emilio.



The child may very well be terminal but the question then becomes, why can't the doctors and hospital treat him with comfort care while leaving him on the respirator and providing necessary treatment, until God and his body decides it is time to let go or his mother decides the time has come? Why are they in such a hurry to rush him off? Is it because his mother did not agree with the doctor? Or has the funds run out? One can only wonder.



The futile care law is an abuse of power with anonymous people playing god with other people's lives. Where is the accountability? It's time the futile care law be removed from the books and human life be returned to something valued not devalued and so easily tossed away.



In the meantime, God bless little Emilio and his mother!