Wednesday, March 15, 2006

British Judges Rules Boy Can Live

A British judge has denied a petition by a hospital to cease ventilation support for an 18-month old baby boy.

The boy (who is physically troubled but mentally normal) relies on a ventilator to live. His parents wanted him to stay alive. The hospital wanted to let him die.

I cannot imagine living in a country where I had to go to a court and beg a judge to let my son continue to breathe. A good outcome to an absolutely chilling scenario.

5 comments:

mythago said...

And if the hospital said "We'll continue the ventilator, but only if you pay for it"?

Robert said...

Then they'd have the option of doing that.

emily1 said...

they cut people off life support in texas if they can't pay. would you *still* quote this if the hospital in the UK wanted to cut the child off when the parents couldn't afford the ventilator support anymore because it says something negative about their heath care system?

Robert said...

I would post something about any kid being cut off of life support. My reasons for outrage would be different, of course.

mythago said...

Then they'd have the option of doing that.

As long as they could afford it, of course. Otherwise, I guess the hospital can yank the plug, no worries.