Category Archives: Surrogate Decisions & Guardianship

Pennsylvania: Important Guardianship Ruling — Strict, Narrow Limits for Refusing Life-Sustaining Treatment

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Mark Murphy, Legal Director of the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania (DRN), emailed a summary of an important Superior Court decision that lays out a very stringent set of criteria that have to be met in order for a guardian to order refusal of treatment for an incapacitated person who isn’t at the end stage … Continue reading Pennsylvania: Important Guardianship Ruling — Strict, Narrow Limits for Refusing Life-Sustaining Treatment →

Request to remove life-support from 6-Month-Old in Texas Withdrawn for Now – Texas NDY

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On Monday this week, NDY was contacted by Texas attorney Jerri Ward, who has worked extensively on behalf of families and patients in fighting the aggressive implementation of “futility” policies in Texas. The subject of the call was an impending court hearing in Dallas County juvenile court to decide on a petition by a court-appointed … Continue reading Request to remove life-support from 6-Month-Old in Texas Withdrawn for Now – Texas NDY →

Update: Haleigh Poutre and the Strange Priorities of Massachusetts Legislators

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Wesley Smith has an update on Haleigh Poutre, who apparently – and hopefully – will be spared having to testify in the trial of her stepfather, Jason Strickland. Haleigh Poutre narrowly escaped the death planned for her by medical professionals at Baystate Medical Center and publicly-appointed guardians from Massachussets DSS. These professionals all signed off … Continue reading Update: Haleigh Poutre and the Strange Priorities of Massachusetts Legislators →

Dorothy Livadas Scheduled to Die Today

"end of life", media coverage, medical decisionmaking, Our News & Commentary Blog, Surrogate Decisions & Guardianship

Yesterday, I received email from Ianthe Livadas. Ianthe was removed as her mother’s guardian in a dispute with Strong Memorial Hospital here in Rochester. This is part of what she wrote: …her current attending (he doesn’t even know her) just told me that CFC has decided that my mother should be disconnected, and that the … Continue reading Dorothy Livadas Scheduled to Die Today →

Dorothy Livadas Case Complex – and Hospital’s Misuse of Language Doesn’t Help

"end of life", advance directives, life-ending decisions, Our News & Commentary Blog, reality check, Surrogate Decisions & Guardianship

This entry is a little late. Others have been writing about the battle over the guardianship of Dorothy Livadas, a battle that has life and death consequences. Both Wesley Smith and Thaddeus Pope have written about the messy situation surrounding Dorothy Livadas. Interestingly, both Wesley and Pope have termed this case as one revolving “futility.” … Continue reading Dorothy Livadas Case Complex – and Hospital’s Misuse of Language Doesn’t Help →