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This was in blogsforterri.com

April 28, 2005
Will Judge Decree Death for Teron? An Urgent Appeal
The New York Daily News reports today:

The family of a brain-dead [sic] Bronx boy said last night it has made the agonizing decision to officially end his life today.
Teron Francis, 13, is expected to be removed from a ventilator at Montefiore Medical Center's Children's Hospital after a noon court hearing to lift an injunction that has kept him on the machine, a judge in the case said.

"The family conveyed to me that they would like me to lift the injunction," Bronx Supreme Court Justice Douglas McKeon said after meeting with the family at Montefiore for 5-1/2 hours last night.

CURE has faxed the following appeal to Judge Douglas McKeon, that is, we have faxed it to the Bronx Supreme Court (718-590-4520). Repeated calls made to Judge McKeon's office (718-590-3748) requesting his direct fax in order to send him this critical information resulted in his staffer repeatedly hanging up after saying, "No one to help you here." It was acknowledged that Judge McKeon was in the building. Thus the Culture of Death again prevents the truth from reaching those in a position to stop the killing!

Read and act on CURE's appeal, which follows, by calling Judge Douglas McKeon's office at 718-590-3748.

URGENT: RE Teron Francis—Please Deliver to Judge McKeon
Prior To Today’s Hearing!!!
April 28, 2005
The Honorable Douglas McKeon
Bronx Supreme Court
851 Grand Concourse
Bronx, NY 10451

Your Honor:

First, a belated but heartfelt note of appreciation for your ruling that has thus far prevented Montefiore Hospital from removing Teron Francis ventilatory assistance, thus causing his death. The respect you accorded him by visiting him in the hospital and the compassion you have shown his family are deeply appreciated as well.

The enclosed information was faxed to the offices of attorney Robert Genis on April 23 because they have direct bearing on Teron’s medical status and could have led to the presentation of pertinent evidence in the hearing you conducted on Monday. I implore you to review them before ruling on any request to vacate your order.

The simple truth is that Teron Francis is alive and that after his ventilator has been removed he will be dead because death has been imposed on him. This tragedy is compounded by the irony that the loving family who understood that Teron is alive and had vowed to stand by him until his heart stopped will have consented to his being killed.

You had indicated that you felt towards Teron as a son. I have a son of my own, Thomas, who is 15, just a couple of years older than Teron. If he were to be murdered, it would break my heart, but if it were by my hand that his death was decreed, I would be inconsolable.

May God bless you for your consideration of our urgent appeal and grant you the wisdom and courage to defend his sacred gift of life.

Yours for Life,

Earl E. Appleby, Jr.
Director, CURE

Enclosures

Here is my thinking on this poor boy Teron. He is gone now to God, and I believe he is with the Lord now. However, I do not think that taking Teron off the resperator was murder. He was brain dead. There is a huge difference between someone who is brain dead and brain damaged. There is still life in a person who is brain damaged, and there isn't when someone is brain dead. I have seen a brain dead person, they are in fact dead, but being kept alive by machines only.

I do not think it is anyone but the famalies decision to pull the plug on their child. If they wanted a second or third opinion to make sure he was in fact brain dead than they should be allowed that until they believe it for fact. It takes time and no hospital should try and override a families wishes, unless the wishes are to harm. There was no harm in keeping Teron alive artifically, and I am glad that his family got to make those decisions for him. I know it must have been hard. I don't think I could ever make those decisions myself.