How would that help, if the child has been moved to another hospital?
(The Bronx-WABC, April 23, 2005) — Overnight developments in the case of a brain-damaged boy in the Bronx. Doctors want to take him off life support--the boy's family does not. Now, a judge has sided with the family. Eyewitness News reporter Ken Rosato is at Montefiore Children's Hospital live with the story.
It was a dramatic scene here last night, with the judge coming here at almost literally the 11th hour and meeting with the family and the hospital. In the end, he decided to keep the child alive, at least until Monday. Eyewitness News obtained exclusive photographs taken by the boy's relatives, hours before the hearing.
Judge Douglas McKeon arrived at Montefiore Hospital late last night for an emergency hearing. After a heartwrenching meeting with the family of Taran Francis, the judge decided to keep the 13-year-old alive with the help of a respirator. On Thursday, the hospital told Taran's mother that they planned to take him off life support. That prompted her to file a temporary restraining order. After hours of prayers, and Judge McKeon's meeting, the family's wishes were granted.
Patsy Gouldbourne, family attorney: "The mother's there, the aunt's there, the brothers, the sisters--relatives are just coming, it's non-stop. He has a very large family, and very supportive."
Montefiore released a statement saying "the conference allowed all parties to express their concerns and confirm that we all truly are in agreement with doing what is best for the child and the family."
Doctors declared the Bronx teen clinically dead. They say Francis developed a dental infection on April 6th, that turned into a brain infection.
All parties concerned will now meet with the judge on Monday. At that point the judge could order that the hospital has its rights--under state law, the hospital right now has the right to remove life support. But because of the judge's order, the child will be allowed to stay on life support until Monday. But at that point, the hospital does have the right to pull the plug. The hospital is insisting that this child is brain-dead, that there is no hope he can ever recover from this horrible incident. WABC