Bolanle Akanji
Moderator
Erick Munoz says his wife Marlise, 33, who hasn’t regained consciousness since suffering an embolism in November, would not have wanted to live life hooked up to a machine. He wants her taken off life support even though it means the death of their unborn child who is still alive in Marlise's womb.
The law in Texas is not being cooperative; it stipulates that doctors must take all life saving measures to preserve the life of an unborn baby. In the Munoz family's case, the baby is too small to survive outside the womb which means the doctors' hands, and Erick’s are tied.
‘I don't agree with this law,’ Erick said. He said he and Marlise were both paramedics and they had seen enough in the line of duty to know that they won't like being placed in life support.
Erick found his wife unconscious on their kitchen floor and fought in vain to resuscitate her, it is unknown how long she was unconscious raising questions about the health of the foetus as the lack of oxygen could have severely affected the child.
The couple had only discussed their mutual desire to never be kept alive by a machine and did not sign a 'do not resuscitate' order which would not have made a difference anyway. The Texan law gives right to the unborn child before it caters to the wishes of its mother.
The state’s form for a 'Do not resuscitate' order reads, ‘I understand under Texas law this directive has no effect if I have been diagnosed as pregnant.’
The law in Texas is not being cooperative; it stipulates that doctors must take all life saving measures to preserve the life of an unborn baby. In the Munoz family's case, the baby is too small to survive outside the womb which means the doctors' hands, and Erick’s are tied.
‘I don't agree with this law,’ Erick said. He said he and Marlise were both paramedics and they had seen enough in the line of duty to know that they won't like being placed in life support.
Erick found his wife unconscious on their kitchen floor and fought in vain to resuscitate her, it is unknown how long she was unconscious raising questions about the health of the foetus as the lack of oxygen could have severely affected the child.
The couple had only discussed their mutual desire to never be kept alive by a machine and did not sign a 'do not resuscitate' order which would not have made a difference anyway. The Texan law gives right to the unborn child before it caters to the wishes of its mother.
The state’s form for a 'Do not resuscitate' order reads, ‘I understand under Texas law this directive has no effect if I have been diagnosed as pregnant.’
