Mr. Ramirez is not on “life support.” He is breathing on his own and is simply receiving nourishment and hydration (you know, that “life support” known as food and water) because he is in a medically-induced “coma-like” state.
No, this is not “another Terri Schiavo.” That lasted more than a decade. This man was in a car accident TWO WEEKS ago. He is recovering from that accident. Doctors have determined his prognosis to be that he could possibly be a vegetable or he could possibly regain most normal functions. Much uncertainty to kill him so early in his recovery, don’t you think?
I understand the position about the wife making medical decisions. However, it is not a “medical decision” to prevent a person in recovery from eating and drinking, even if that person can not yet do that on his own. BY AZ law, a surrogate MAY NOT make that decision and without a living will or power of attorney, the wife is SOL in her desire to kill him.
Additionally, this couple had been experiencing a rough time in their marriage for an extended period. They were having an INTENSE fight when the SUV rolled. AZ law requires that if a life/death decision is made, it is made by a competent person who has the injured person’s best interest in mind. Rebecca seemed all too eager to kill him by starvation and dehydration. Therefore, the family has a right to have the questions answered regarding Jesse’s best interests and whether Rebecca is acting in good faith. That insurance money, yes there is insurance money at stake...can’t be a factor, right?
What the parents are asking is that he be given a fair chance at recovery. Ten days (the time from the accident to when his wife ordered that he be moved to hospice and that he be starved and dehydrated to death) IS NOT long enough. Any compassionate human being who knows these facts and considers also that Jesse has three kids ages 17, 14 and 11, could not possibly arrive at the conclusion that he has been given a fair opportunity. That’s all his folks, his brothers, sister and the rest of his family are asking for. They have stated that if his condition is determined by doctors to be hopeless that they will let go, but ten days...too soon.
Thank you for adding significant facts and context to the story. That puts it all in a very clear light.
The only thing I read was that "a doctor told Jesse’s family that if he lived, he would probably be blind and would remain in a persistent vegetative state." It was only after receiving that news that his spouse had the doctors transfer him to a hospice and remove his feeding tube.
Where did you read that a doctor said he could possibly regain most normal functions? I'd like a link to that.
What would you prefer?