Contact info is provided in the article to express our concerns:
Note: please contact the hospital to express your concerns and to let it know that its actions are being watched (closely):
St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, 6720 Bertner Ave., Houston, TX 77030 Main hospital telephone number - 832-355-1000 Email Also - here is a more general contact list of representatives and officials.
More Information: Partnership for Medical Ethics Reform North Country Gazette Right Wing News My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy ProLifeBlogs
Thanks for posting.
Ping on follow-up of this case.
Interesting case, but I'd like to know more about her medical prognosis before I can make a judgement about the hospitals' decision.
As you know, my son has overcome severe motor skills problems over and over since last October - he has even regained reasoning powers, though he has his days.
This woman's doctor needs to be investigated - where did he graduate, last in his class? All these jerks know is morphine and let 'em die.
I can't imagine how anyone could possibly choose to have this doctor or go to this hospital. It would be like Israel subcontracting its boarder security to Hamas.
I can't imagine how anyone could possibly choose to have this doctor or go to this hospital. It would be like Israel subcontracting its border security to Hamas.
L
The first 10-day "warning" period ended yesterday and she is still at St. Luke's, alive, according to our TV news just now. I guess the Tuesday meeting indicated in this article is still "on" - the news program didn't say anything about that.
Does anyone know if the Episcopal Bishop of Texas has commented on Andrea's case?
St. Luke's Hospital. It's Episcopal? Not Catholic, right?
The article has been moved down for newer articles.
http://www.hyscience.com/archives/2006/04/cease_and_desis.php#more
Besides the phone number listed above, there is an email address for St. Lukes.
generalinformation@sleh.com
thanks for the Ping. IMO, if this woman is still brain alive than they should keep treating her and do what they can for her. Many people live taking dialysis every day of their life, that is nothing new. I just don't get why doctors just think it is best to let someone die when that person clearly can live!
Also, you can contact news media in Houston, TX, and contact multiple newspapers, tv and radio, right from this link:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/
In reference to Post #49, you must put in the zip code. I put one of Houston's zip codes, 77001.
You can send messages to 5 places at a time.
This is a very interesting case and very important. I am not sure how many threads have been posted on this subject. I suggest everyone please go to this blogger site for an overview and links -
http://maxedoutmama.blogspot.com/2006/04/andrea-clark-and-futile-care-laws.html
Maxedoutmamma often mointers the Democractic Underground. A poster over there is this womans sister. There are 4 threads she links to DU where the family is trying to get out info. Also its interesting to see how a Right/left coalition has formed. I have been screaming about situations like this for years. If you anyone that is familar with case can post an update please do. I have to go to Shreveport Louisiana tomorrow and I will make sure that pro life organizations get involved If I have the proper info I can give them as to status. Also I have contacts with the Espicopal Diocese in Shreveport. Since this is an Espicopal Hospital they might have possible connections.
Just got the following from Texas Right to Life:
Andrea Clark Will Live!
Texas Right to Life has been working for the last three weeks with the family of Andrea Clark, a patient at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in Houston, who was slated to have all life-sustaining treatment (including food and water) removed against her wishes on Sunday, April 30th. This decision was made by Andrea's primary physician and then approved by the St. Luke's ethics committee—chaired by a prominent Houston abortionist. With mounting pressure from the public generated by Andrea's family and pro-life activists, St. Luke’s arranged to transfer Andrea to an acute care facility in Illinois rather than withdrawing care. (See the transfer story in the Houston Chronicle http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3826053.html.)
However, minutes before the transfer was to occur last Friday, April 28th, St. Luke’s realized that the Illinois facility was not adequately equipped to care for Andrea. Andrea's family was distraught to think that Andrea's life would be hanging in the balance at a facility that considered her life futile and effectively wanted her dead. The attorneys began some fast talking, and the withdrawal of Andrea's treatment was indefinitely postponed.
On Tuesday, May 2nd, the treatment team at St. Luke's convened to further discuss Andrea's condition and treatment plan. At this meeting, Dr. Matthew Lenz, a physician with privileges at St. Luke's, transferred Andrea's care into his own hands. Dr. Lenz became involved at the request of Texas Right to Life and has since taken a personal interest in protecting Andrea's life. His goal is to nurse Andrea back to a point where she can then be transferred to another facility for further rehabilitation. Andrea's condition is very fragile, and she requires a lot of specialized care, yet her condition is no justification for speeding her to her death by abruptly ending treatment and care that has been working. Dr. Lenz is now the new attending physician, and he has already begun to see improvements in her condition. Andrea must undergo a surgery tomorrow to have her septic gall bladder removed. Despite this surgery posing risks to Andrea's fragile condition, the remv While St. Luke's has not made this process easy, St. Luke's has now offered the full support of the administration and of other specialists to assist Dr. Lenz in caring for Andrea.
While the futility law and St. Luke's policy remain problematic, St. Luke's is now committed to preserving Andrea's life and confirmed that the futility statute will not again be invoked as long as Andrea is under Dr. Lenz’s care. Andrea would not be alive today if St. Luke's had not provided care and treatment for Andrea up to this point.
The heroes in this battle are Andrea's siblings and son who fought for her life and cried from every mountaintop for help. Please join Texas Right to Life in praying for Andrea's recovery and in thanksgiving for the moral courage exhibited by Dr. Lenz in challenging St. Luke's and dedicating his personal time to treat and protect Andrea.
Please forward any kudos for Dr. Lenz to ProLife@TexasRightToLife.com, and your praise will be forwarded to him.