I first joined Freerepublic in 1999 or 2000, live in Sydney, Australia now.
A few hours ago, the Australia Supreme Court just ordered that life-support be withdrawn from a young man against the family's vehement objections and attempts to keep him alive. I did not know this could happen here and was really concerned after hearing it on the news an hour or two ago.
"Paulo Melo, 29, has been in a coma at the Royal Darwin Hospital for two weeks, after severing his spinal cord in a car crash."
http://au.news.yahoo.com/071218/21/15bax.html
I don't know if Paulo will survive the night (it's early Thursday morning here) but maybe we can do our part to pressure someone at the hospital, via email, phones, media or political pressure, to turn the machines back on? At least until the family can have independent (non-government?) doctors examine Paulo. This is just wrong IMHO.
"The hospital's medical superintendent, Len Notaras, said the family was told yesterday Mr Melo's life support should be removed after more than 20 specialists agreed he would not recover."
http://au.news.yahoo.com/071218/21/15bax.html
"...Justice Dean Mildren today rejected their application for another extension so a Sydney neurosurgeon could assess Mr Melo in person and give a second opinion... 'On the medical evidence before me the case is futile,' he told the court. Justice Mildren said the family had not provided any medical evidence that Mr Melo would recover, adding that if it were his son he would have taken similar steps, leaving 'no stone unturned'"
...
"Says the hospital (and supported by court), ""They are very concerned as to the family's welfare and indeed we always put our patients first, irrespective of what perception may arise."
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22949433-29277,00.html
Should it be anyone's decision over the family's? Government steps in and make a life-or-death decision against family wishes, out of "compassion" with oh, so much care and compassion on their behalf, and orders government doctors to remove life support from their son? And the doctors actually ask the court to order it, because the family doesn't want them to kill their son? And the court grants this request before the family can have independent study? The court grants this request at ALL?
Please if you have time, send email through the feedback form links, or call concerned parties (information below).
BUT don't keep the ones doing this from doing their jobs! It is a hospital and a court and we do need them to function.
It's also a family. Please do not contact the family, as I am sure they will be inundated.
Also, if any Freepers know anyone of influence in American media, medicine or politics who can contact peers over here who might be able to change decision maker minds here, please urge them to email or call to express their opinion.
The name of the Supreme Court Justice who made the decision is Dean Mildren. Here is his contact information (email or web feedback form - prefer feedback form. Phone: As explained above, dial internationally 011, then Australia country code 61 before the 08 number):
*** Justice Dean Mildren:
(08)899 96365
(08)899 96372 (FAX)
dean.mildren@nt.gov.au
Additional feedback link: http://www.nt.gov.au/ntsc/feedback.html OR DoJWebManager.DOJ@nt.gov.au
Other judges (I don't know if they can move on their own though, so consider not ):
Justice Sally Thomas: (08)899 96472
(08)899 96457 (FAX)
sally.thomas@nt.gov.au
Justice Stephen Southwood: (08)899 96533, (08)899 97293
stephen.southwood@nt.gov.au
Justice Trevor Riley: (08)899 96632
(08)899 96677
trevor.riley@nt.gov.au
Justice Lancelot Priestley: (08)899 96459
Some Australian media:
smh.com.au
yahoo7: http://au.news.yahoo.com/
Here is a potential Australian ally in this, they who may have press relations or contact info: http://agedcareact.wordpress.com http://agedcareact.wordpress.com/2007/07/03/life-support-decision-slammed/
I wish I could send more info than this at the moment, but I have to leave in a bit and won't be able to do anything on this for the next day or so.
Please help if you can!
Thanks, Cheers,
paularish1 (aka "paulsy")
It only took the Australian government 2 weeks to work all the way up the system and decide to kill him?
Small wonder they banned guns...
ABC News says he’s still breathing. The respirator was removed at 4:30.
The state has the power. The hospitals and courts are an institution of the state and doctors as well as judges are licensed officers of the state.
Hopefully this family will get at least the small reprieve they have requested.
Prayers up for all involved.
Paulo Melo, 29, has been on life support at Royal Darwin Hospital after his spinal cord was severed and he sustained head injuries in a car crash two weeks ago.
His family was told earlier this week that life support should be removed after more than 20 specialists agreed he would not recover.
The state owns you, apparently.
why do you feel you need forgiveness? Is it because you very well know you misrepresented the article?
Sounds like what the Democraps in this country envision.
Orwellian nightmare.
But his prognosis remains extremely critical as doctors told the family before turning off the machine that he could only breathe on his own for up to three days.
Or what? They'll hold a pillow over his head?
NT man speaks after life support switched offRebekah Cavanagh
December 20, 2007 11:10amA MAN left to die when his life support system was switched off shocked his grieving family when he took a deep breath and asked for his father.
Paulo Melo was expected to die quietly when the Royal Darwin Hospital switched off his mechanical breathing machine yesterday, the Northern Territory News reports.
The 29-year-old Northern Territorian's life support was removed soon after his family lost their Supreme Court injunction against the hospital, which was granted on Tuesday.
The family asked the court to grant a 72-hour extension so a Sydney neurosurgeon could fly to Darwin to assess Paulo's chances of survival.
Holding his hand after the ventilator was turned off, his mother Amelia, father Fernando, brother Nelson and sister Isabel braced for the death of their loved one.
But Paulo was not ready to give up and started breathing on his own when the machine was turned off.
The car crash victim then tried to speak and is believed to have mumbled, "Dad".
His breathing grew stronger as the night progressed.
The family was last night hopeful he would survive the night. They said this could be the Christmas miracle they had been praying for.
Mr Melo, 57, cried tears of joy when he returned to family and friends in the waiting room to give them the good news.
"He was calling, `Daddy, daddy, daddy'," he said.
"We think he is trying to talk to us. I now feel fresh - I feel positive.
"I never thought he would last this long.
"I thought once they pulled the plug that would be it."
Mr Melo said his son is a fighter.
"He is fighting for his life," he said.
"It has been almost three hours and he is breathing on his own and his heart rate is strong. We believe there is still hope."
Only two people were allowed to be at his bedside at one time, with family and friends rotating in the hours after the machine was switched off at 4.15pm.
If Paulo continued to improve, he was to be moved into a ward late last night.
But his prognosis remains extremely critical as doctors told the family before turning off the machine that he could only breathe on his own for up to three days.
Read Later
I don’t rely on specialist anymore as I was able to Dx a genetic disease I have, despite nearly 15 years of doctors trying to figure it out. It took me nothing more than 30 minutes online.
My prayers are with the family and this person.
Chilling ...
Any updates on this story?
Not in most cases certainly...especially if they can pay for the care.