After a judge had previously prevented Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth from removing a child from life support, a different judge has sided with the hospital, which says the 11-month old girl is in pain and her condition won’t improve, according to the Dallas Morning News.
The mother of the girl, Trinity Lewis, asked Judge Sandee Bryan Marion to make sure Cook Children’s didn’t end the life-saving treatment her daughter Tinslee was receiving. Doctor’s had initially planned on removing her from life support on Nov. 10, when the hospital had been unable to find a facility willing to take the child, but a judge temporarily stopped the process. The search was prompted by Trinity, who disagreed with physicians who say treatment should end, DMN reports.
Texas Right to Life, an anti-abortion group, has been advocating for Tinslee as a part of their fight against the 10-day rule. “The 10-Day Rule has robbed countless patients of their Right to Life and right to due process,” the organization said in a statement.
The rule says that if a hospital’s ethics committee agrees with the physicians, treatment can be stopped if another facility can’t be found to take the patient within 10 days. The hospital has reached out to more than 20 facilities to see if one will take Tinslee, as has Texas Right to Life.
Lewis gave a statement issued by Texas Right to Life, expressing her sadness. “I am heartbroken over today’s decision because the judge basically said Tinslee’s life is NOT worth living. I feel frustrated because anyone in that courtroom would want more time just like I do if Tinslee were their baby. I hope that we can keep fighting through an appeal to protect Tinslee. She deserves the right to live. Please keep praying for Tinslee and thank you for supporting us during this difficult time.”
Read more here.
