Posted on 04/21/2005 8:46:38 AM PDT by eeevil conservative
THE PARENTS of a severely brain-damaged baby who has survived against the odds will find out this week if a court order allowing a hospital to let her die will be lifted. Last October Charlotte Wyatt was given just months to live after St Marys hospital in Portsmouth won the right not to provide life-saving treatment if her condition deteriorated.
But now hospital sources admit the 18-month-old baby may live on for a considerable time potentially years rather than months.
At present, Charlotte is in an oxygen box most of the day to to ensure she has sufficient supply and to stop her breathing contaminated air. She can only come out for short spells when her parents visit. However, her breathing has improved: if the 60% of oxygen she needs from the artificial supply could be reduced to 30%, she would be able to go home with the aid of an oxygen mask.
Her survival has confounded predictions by doctors who told the High Court last autumn that she would catch an infection during the winter that would prove fatal if the hospital did not resuscitate her. Ventilating Charlotte would be purposeless and intolerable to her and she should be allowed to pass away peacefully, they said.
After lasting the winter, however, she was observed by her parents, Darren and Debbie Wyatt, from Portsmouth, to have limited sight and hearing. They returned to court in March to ask for the do not resuscitate order to be lifted. The courts judgment is due this week.
The Wyatts asked that if Charlottes condition declined to the point that she needed resuscitation, she should be put on a ventilator for at least five days to give her a chance of survival.
A medical report commissioned by the couples solicitors confirmed that Charlotte was no longer in constant pain and that she had started to respond to lights and sound. But doctors at St Marys still believe ventilating Charlotte would not be in her best interests as it would only postpone her death and prolong her suffering.
This weekend a hospital source said: It would be inappropriate to ventilate Charlotte as this could do her more damage and it would serve no purpose. Our clinicians have made a very considered judgment and I cannot imagine that the court will change its mind.
Charlotte, who was born prematurely weighing just 1lb, will remain seriously disabled. Although her lungs have got stronger since October, her brain has not grown.
Data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act shows that even before this latest court hearing in March, the legal action has cost Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs St Marys, about £115,000.
The dispute has taken a huge emotional toll on the Wyatts and the doctors caring for Charlotte, who is now being treated by her third paediatrician because of the strained relationship between the family and hospital staff. This weekend Carol Glass, a friend of the Wyatts, said: With the right treatment, Charlotte could live on.
I found THIS on that man, 68 year old Spiro Nikolouzos
in Houston, where the hospital wants to remove all life sustaining measures against his wife's wishes.
(*Please note the TWO different CRITERIAS which could implement involuntary euthanasia!)
I'll look for something with more info.
Spiro Nikolouzos
A patient's inability to pay for medical care combined with a prognosis that renders further care futile are two reasons a hospital might suggest cutting off life support, the chief medical officer at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital said Monday.
Dr. David Pate's comments came as the family of Spiro Nikolouzos fights to keep St. Luke's from turning off the ventilator and artificial feedings keeping the 68-year-old grandfather alive.
St. Luke's notified Jannette Nikolouzos in a March 1 letter that it would withdraw life-sustaining care of her husband of 34 years in 10 days, which would be Friday. Mario Caba-llero, the attorney representing the family, said he is seeking a two-week extension, at minimum, to give the man more time to improve and to give his family more time to find an alternative facility.
I hate to say it, but this is a result of the law that BUSH created when he was Governor! Did he know that NO OTHER HOSPITAL would be willing to take on another hospital's patient, when he wrote this? Because THAT'S exactly the problem that these people in Texas are now facing!
How about a law which states hospitals can't REFUSE to take a patient from another hospital, so these families can have a fair shake at saving the lives of their loved ones!
I'm just absolutely FUMING right now!
Where there's life, there's hope.
I wish we had kept the Pope's brain alive.
how could she improve if her brain 'had not grown? and
Fed continuously through a tube, she is seriously undernourished
How is she seriously malnourished if being fed the proper nutrients?
I have friends whose doctors told them, in mid pregnancy, that their coming baby had NO brain...and recc. abortion. They refused. They took the matter to the Lord.
Their "brainless" daughter is now on the honor role in high school
email for ABC/Nightline:
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/News/story?id=64544
Sean Hannity
Website: http://www.hannity.com/story.php?content=/contact fill in form
On air phone: 1-800-941-SEAN
*Hannity Show Producer, James Grisham: James.Grisham@abc.com
Glenn Beck
Contact page: http://www.glennbeck.com/contact/index.html
On Air phone: 1-888-727-BECK
Glenn Beck's email: me@glennbeck.com
"Stu", the producer's, email: stu@glennbeck.com
Mike Gallagher
On Air phone: 1-800-655-MIKE
FAX: 1-800-821-MIKE
email: www.mikeonline.com/askmike must fill in form.
G. Gordon Liddy
Website: www.liddyshow.us
On air phone: 1-800-GGLIDDY
G.Gordon Liddy's email: LIDDYSHOW2@AOL.COM
MEDIA MEMBERS ONLY TO INTERVIEW G. GORDON LIDDY, please contact Diana Kalandros ggliddyshowdk@aol.com
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS & PERSONAL APPEARANCES be sure to indicate in subject line your interest including all available details-a response will be issued withing 24 hours of receipt: - ggliddyshowdk@aol.com
Snailmail: G. Gordon Liddy
Radio America
1030 15th St., NW,
Suite 1040
Washington, D.C. 20005
Michael Savage
Website: http://www.michaelsavage.com
Email: michaelsavage@paulreveresociety.com
George Noory - Coast to Coast AM
Website: http://www.coasttocoastam.com
George Noory's email: george@coasttocoastam.com
Weekend host Art Bell: artbell@mindspring.com (Note: not sure where he stands on Terri.)
Substitute host Barbara Simpson -- SEE BELOW
Barbara Simpson
KSFO Radio - babeinthebunker@yahoo.com
Substitute host of Coast to Coast AM - barbara@coasttocoastam.com
Columnist for WorldNet Daily - bsimpson@worldnetdaily.com
Michael Medved
email: http://www.michaelmedved.com/askmike fill in form
"At the same time, I don't think that the courts have the right to kill patients (ala Terri Schiavo)."
Exactly...
Try this thread. A *little* different perspective. It seems to me as though this court, also, has that end in mind. As far as why they haven't tried another hospital, I don't know. Kind of looks like a financial issue....this baby needs a fund.
"At the same time, I don't think that the courts have the right to kill patients (ala Terri Schiavo)."
Exactly...
Try this thread. A *little* different perspective. It seems to me as though this court, also, has that end in mind. As far as why they haven't tried another hospital, I don't know. Kind of looks like a financial issue....this baby needs a fund.
(pinging the original posters on the thread as well as my Pro-life/pro-BABY ping list which is coming back online.)
-----------------
18 July 2005
Recent Picture of Charlotte and Darren |
Thanks for updating this thread about baby Charlotte, cgk.
This is excellent news.
More prayers for Charlotte in the hopes that she will soon be reunited with her family at home -- where she belongs -- and that her miracle healing will continue.
There it is! Euthanize anyone who costs the state money.
Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list
Thank you so much for the update, especially the pictures! Pink, yellow and blue are particularly becoming on Charlotte. When I was her age, I certainly didn't have her lovely head of hair! Prayers will continue for the family.
God is Good.
Why is the baby in the hospital?
Why can't the parents do the tube feedings and O2 care at home. Many of us do high level care at home for a fraction of the cost.
It is not hard to learn all the care needs but is a full time commitment.
If the baby was at home then perhaps this would not be a court issue. Since now being in a hosp. the baby is essentially under the hosp. full time care and policies.
If the baby were to be cared for at home with the same medical needs done by Mom and Dad then they would be the custodial care or responsible party for the child.
So can someone explain to me why the baby after 18mos needs 24hr hosp care and has not been transitioned to home care?
I support the parents in the survival of their child but I get frustrated about cases like is when no one addresses why parents don't assume the care providing and want a hosp to be a long term facility.
Either find an appropriate long term care facility that cares for the severly disabled or take your child home and provide the care yourself.
Then perhaps the COURTS would not have to be involved.
Praying for life and for this family!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.