Teen Transplant Dies-Parents Refused Hospital Request for Heart and Lung Donation

CBS News ^ | February 22, 2003 | Mark Strathamn

[ewing]

CBS News Mark Strathman reports that before Jessicas death, the family was asked whether Jessica's heart and lungs would like to be redonated.

The family refused, and wanted another doctors opinion about keeping her on life support.

In North Carolina the familys consent is not needed to take someone off of life support.

[ewing]

Obviously Jessica is more important than the other US CITIZENS on the list..

[MizSterious]

Fine. Now offer condolences, then deport the family. I'm truly sorry for their loss, but their attitude really stinks.

[ewing]

I dont even think they have a conscience, their daughter is dead..why bring another family that pain by denying them the same chance that they had?

[InvisibleChurch]

i wonder if lawyers are advising them to keep the organs in case of future litigation

[DonQ]

I don't blame the parents, and I am very suspicious of the hospital's motives. Jessica had gotten slipshod treatment -- it's a Very Careless mistake to mis-match organ blood types - and now the hospital wanted to yank the plug and remove the evidence rather than let independent experts examine the situation.

[ewing]

'independent experts' -SHE'S DEAD! there is no blood flowing to her brain..a coroner will do just fine

[ewing]

Screw the lawyers, this is an issue of common decency.

I would get the family out of that hospital with INS guards if necessary and talke them back home to Mexico.

Let the World Court try and sue the hospital..these folks have no rights

[FR_addict]

After making a mistake that left this child brain dead, it sounds like the doctors removed the child from life support without parental consent. The parents were not ready to accept that their child was brain dead. They wanted a second opinion. The doctors could have waited until the parents were ready to accept the terrible and unneccessary death of their daughter.

I don't blame the parents for not trusting the doctors or hospital anymore. I would want a second opinion too after this fiasco. The doctors could have waited. I think they are trying to cover their tracks now by trying to turn the media against these parents. This is sick.

[livius]

I don't think organs in that state (after the effects of the reaction) can be donated. I think Duke was just trying to cover its rather large and vulnerable posterior.

[ewing]

These people should be in Mexico!

I dont care if they want a second opinion or not..they should be asking their questions from Mexico City

[philetus]

In North Carolina the familys consent is not needed to take someone off of life support.

[ewing]

Corneas can always be donated.

[Nebullis]

Assuming anything is salvageable, donation is a separate issue.

This girl did not have a right to an organ transplant. Nobody has a right to her organs.

[independentmind]

I think they are trying to cover their tracks now by trying to turn the media against these parents. This is sick.

You're right. Surely the parents' decision not to donate the child's organs should be confidential. How did this get out in the news?

[philetus]

Did an American possibly die for want of these same organs?

[independentmind]

This girl did not have a right to an organ transplant. Nobody has a right to her organs.

A rare voice of sanity in this tragedy.

[Smocker]

Back off ewing, their child died under horrific circumstances. What, you're saying if they are
latinos, they are not entitled to compassion?

[ShadowDancer]

Do you have children?

[InvisibleChurch]

ok, so the lawyer intimates to these people that the ins WILL visit them if they don't do as he 'recommends' ... do you think the INS would send these people out of the country anyway? cnn and their ilk would have a field day

[ewing]

Nope, I'm saying that under the law the family should not be here.