Posted on 05/03/2006 4:30:38 PM PDT by wagglebee
HOUSTON, Texas, May 3, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Andrea Clark’s family is rejoicing today after a new doctor took over the critically ill woman’s care and helped convince St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital to end futility proceedings.
“I’m so happy I don’t know what to think, or say, or do,” Ms. Clark’s sister, Melanie Childers, said in an email to ProLifeBlogs, where updates on the battle to save Andrea were posted almost daily. “Not only is my sister not going to be put to death by St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, but it also looks like she is recovering from her heart surgery, finally.”
Two weeks ago the hospital ethics committee decided to remove Ms. Clark from life-support without her family’s permission, saying further care would be futile, a legal decision under current Texas law. Ms. Clark had suffered severe complications following heart surgery and required a respirator and dialysis machine. The family had 10 days to move Ms. Clark to another facility before the hospital would act.
That decision drew an outcry from her family and from pro-life advocates across the country and beyond, as an informal Internet campaign to raise awareness of the situation swung into action. Mainstream media picked up the story last week.
The family is crediting their success in large part to the participation of concerned pro-lifers.
“[The doctors] underestimated the power of the right to life people…I think we should all be glad that this IS an issue in which such a passionate and large group of people have chosen to wage war,” wrote Ms. Childers. “Once these people get started, they are like a steamroller—they ARE going to run through the opposition.”
Ms. Clark is now in the care of Dr. Matthew Lenz, who has privileges at St. Luke’s. Lawyer for the family Jerri Ward told ProLifeBlogs, “St. Luke’s is doing the right thing in this case now…for the time being, Andrea will continue to receive life-sustaining and appropriate treatment at St. Luke’s.”
See previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
Hospital Served “Cease and Desist” Order After Threatening Life-Support Removal
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/may/06050103.html
Alert Woman Threatened With Death After Houston Hospital Votes to Remove Life Support
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/apr/06042508.html
Andrea Ping!
It never occurred to the Clarke family to get the opinion of a second doctor? Doh!!
I'm betting there much more here than meets the eye.
They have that right. St. Luke's wouldn't try to stop them.
could be the insurance doesn't cover it - but,as you see, if you read it - they DID and she is now under the care of another Dr...
Amazes me how quick some are to jump to conclusions - especially when they aren't there to see what ALL is going on? "Doh"
ping.
Dr. Sinkspur's own diagnoses are the ones that need second opinions. Here is Dr. Sinkspur rattling off medical orders in the thread titled "Cease and Desist Order in Andrea Clark Case."
[1] >> Clarke has been at St. Luke's, an acute care facility, for four months. She needs long-term, palliative care. 12 posted on 04/30/2006 7:26:05 PM PDT by sinkspur
She was scheduled for surgery today to remove an infected gall bladder. This is not without risk, given her condition, but should lead to general improvement, Dr. Lenz believes.
Palliative care, as recommended by Dr. Sinkspur, would leave the problem untreated, kill the patient and bring on a quick malpractice suit.
[2] >> The fact that no other hospital or long-term care facility indicates they can do no more for her than St. Luke's has done. 16 posted on 04/30/2006 7:37:41 PM PDT by sinkspur.
Can anyone translate that into English?
[3] >> So, some palliative care facility needs to be found. The problem is, once they receive the prognosis from St. Luke's doctors, they're not going to take her. She's not going to get better. 18 posted on 04/30/2006 7:39:06 PM PDT by sinkspur
"My sister is getting well", Melanie Childers jubilantly said Monday. "Her white blood cell count has been down to normal for the fourth day in a row now and she has been able to get off of the blood pressure raising drugs that she has had to be on for months. She is doing great. Her new doctor, Dr. Matthew Lentz, has also halved the amount of pain medications that she is taking so that she can talk to her family. He says that her condition is 'serious' but that she does have the ability to get much better".
How come this family waited until their sister was nearly dead to get a second opinion?
There is no point to your question. The family's actions are not at issue in this case.
Uh-huh. Andrea suddenly got better when the family got rid of one doctor and hired another.
The family's actions have EVERYTHING to do with this case.
You attacked the family for not getting a second opinion. Now you praise them for getting a second opinion. Good night and I wish you a pleasant debate with yourself.
Good news. Thanks for posting.
Great news!
;)
side benefit? Some DUr's join the pro-life movement.
Why didn't St. Luke's have the gutso to say that Doctor 1 was nutso?
They respond to their funding being withdrawn if nothing else.
I left a voicemail about the Ten Commandments vs. The Ten Suggestions. I queried which ones they used at St. Luke's.
If the liberals are willing to help preserve life, I'm all for it. Who knows, down the road they may start seeing how misguided their other beliefs are.
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