Battle Over Possible Euthanasia of New York Teenager Gets Pro-Life Attention

Life News ^ | 1/1/08 | Steven Ertelt

[wagglebee]

Bronx, NY (LifeNews.com) -- The battle over the life and death of a teenage girl in New York has drawn the attention of pro-life advocates in recent days. The fight to save Javona Peters reminds some of the struggle of the Schindler family in Florida to save the life of Terri Schiavo, a beloved daughter and sibling whose former husband eventually took her life.

In this case, Peters' parents are disagreeing on whether or not to remove her feeding tube and take her life.

Peters fell into a coma in October while she had a routine medical procedure at Montefiore Medical Center. Doctors have pegged her as being in a persistent vegetative state, a medical diagnosis pro-life advocates dispute because so many patients have partially or fully recovered.

Peters' parents were never married and are estranged and have considered a medical malpractice suit against the hospital, according to a New York Daily News report.

But Janet Joseph and Leonard Peters are also feuding over Peters' care and have each filed separate requests to be given custody of their daughter. Peters has been opposed to removing the feeding tube but has wavered recently.

Edward Gersowitz, an attorney for Joseph, told the newspaper that "Because of her condition, she cannot make decisions for herself, and the court will have to appoint a guardian to make decisions for her."

As a teen, Peters doesn't have a living will or some other advanced directive providing guidelines for the type of medical treatment, or withdrawal, she favors.

The case has drawn the attention of the Schindler family, which sent out a notice about the case from its foundation, which helps disabled patients receive legal help and appropriate medical care.

Leading bioethics watchdog Wesley J. Smith has also commented on it and he says the PVS diagnosis seems "rushed" to him.

Smith says he sympathizes with the father and the pressure he is under to take Peters' life.

"We know that too often medical teams and social workers pressure and cajole for such outcomes," he said.

Smith draws comparisons to the case of Haleigh Poutre, a Massachusetts girl whom LifeNews.com reported was also declared PVS, but who has recovered from the abuse she suffered.

In that case, state government officials had ordered her feeding tube removed but she recovered from the PVS state shortly beforehand.

[8mmMauser]

More on Lauren Richardson...

(Sorry, misspelled her first name in post above...)

The media is finally running with it. Yesterday, only one source had picked it up, alas, a source we couldn't even post due to copyright.

................................

Three years after the media firestorm over the sad case of Terry Schiavo, a similar battle being fought in the state of Delaware is currently flying under the mainstream media’s radar.

The Wilmington [Del.] News Journal, which is owned by Gannett, reported on Thursday that the parents of 23-year old Lauren Marie Richardson, whose brain was damaged by a heroin overdose in August 2006, are in court battling over whether to remove her feeding tube. Richardson was pregnant at the time of her overdose, and she was kept alive with the feeding tube and a respirator until the birth of her daughter in February 2007. Since then, Richardson has recovered enough that she no longer required the respirator.

Her father, Randy Richardson, has expressed wishes to take care of his brain-damaged daughter. But a Delaware court awarded Lauren Marie’s mother, Edith Towers, guardianship, which, as "The News Journal" noted, "could allow the removal of a feeding tube and end the life of his brain-damaged daughter." Mr. Richardson appealed the court’s ruling, and it could take up to three months for the Delaware court to rule on the appeal.

As of 5:30 pm Eastern time on Friday, the only mainstream media news source that has picked up on the story is "The News Journal," according to a search on Google News. Pro-life nurse Jill Stanek reported on her blog that Fox News’ "Hannity and Colmes" program will feature the program on the night of February 1.

[h/t to Jill Stanek]

Shades of Terry Schiavo: Battle Over Delaware Woman Under MediaÂ’s Radar

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[8mmMauser]

Lauren Richardson...

WND is running with it.

.......................

...........She's no longer in need of the breathing machine, and now a court order has been issued, and appealed, that could allow the removal of her feeding tube, and her resulting death, the newspaper reported.

The Schiavo case, on which WND reported exhaustively, ended in March 2005 when Terri died, despite a battle by her parents to overturn a court order allowing the same treatment, the removal of her feeding tube.................

Dad, mom fight over starving brain-damaged daughter... 'She's committed no crime and doesn't deserve to have this death imposed on her'

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[8mmMauser]

ProLifeBlogs...

...............................

In a case that parallels that of Terri Schiavo, Lauren Richardson, a 23-year old non-dying citizen of Delaware, is being dehydrated and starved to death by order of the state, against the wishes of her father. - details at Defend Life, the Delaware Online and LifeNews. Update: see JillStanek.com for more.

A press release by the Delaware Pro-Life Coalition explains:

Lauren is a disabled, non-dying citizen of Delaware who gave birth to her child last year against all physical odds. She has continued to fight for her life. WE APPEAL TO THE
CITIZENS OF DELAWARE TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT HER LIFE AS A DISABLED PERSON BY SUSTAINING HER FOOD AND WATER. SHE WAS CREATED BY GOD AND HAS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE UNTIL HER NATURAL END OF LIFE.

Programs are available throughout the state and by private agencies to tube-fed, disabled citizens; they affirm human dignity and support the families of such individuals. To die by dehydration and starvation because the court deems it "necessary" is the ultimate in human abandonment by society. To use the law to impose death rather than support human life in all of its frailties is a crime against humanity.

WE BELIEVE LAUREN WANTS US TO AFFIRM HER LIFE.

Lauren's father Randy Richardson is scheduled to appear on FOX News "Hannity and Colmes," Friday, February 1st, 9:00 PM and released a video of his daughter.

Visit LifeforLauren for more information about what you can do to help.

Parents battle over life and death of daughter

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[8mmMauser]

And more on Lauren...

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Judie Brown, president of American Life League, released the following statement concerning an order by Delaware Court of Chancery Master Sam Glasscockon to give guardianship of Lauren Richardson to her mother, who wants to remove Lauren's feeding tube.

"Lauren is 23 years of age and, due to a heroin overdose, is now in a persistent vegetative state. At the time of the overdose, Lauren was expecting the birth of her baby and reports indicate that she was 'kept alive' to allow her to give birth, which she did in February of last year. Her daughter is now about to celebrate her first birthday, but Lauren may never have another birthday.

"Of interest is the fact that, during the pregnancy, Lauren relied on 'feeding tubes and a breathing machine' to keep her alive. Today Lauren has a feeding tube only. But there is a struggle going on regarding whether or not Lauren will live or die.

"Lauren's case is more than a sad commentary on the plight of a family battling over what each of the opponents believes would be in her best interest. Her story is a testimony to the growing philosophy in this country that some, because of their condition, are better off dead than alive.

"Like Terri Schiavo before her, Lauren is not dying nor is she in a terminal condition. She has been diagnosed as someone in a 'persistent vegetative state,' someone who is very much alive but locked in her body and unable to express her desires to anyone. The only thing Lauren is relying on is a feeding tube without which she will starve to death. Lauren's mother, who is Lauren's guardian, wants the feeding tube removed while Lauren's father is fighting to keep Lauren alive.

"This family is in our prayers. We hope that, in the interest of respecting Lauren's dignity as a human being whose future improvement or lack thereof is known only to God, the court will listen carefully to those who argue in favor of Lauren's right to life. It is a tragedy beyond description when any human being's fate rests solely on the subjective opinion of others, some of whom truly believe that patients like Lauren have no 'quality of life' and therefore are better off dead."

American Life League: Do Not Remove Lauren's Feeding Tube

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[8mmMauser]

Meanwhile as News Busters illustrates, the left loonies still find Terri's Legacy fretworthy...

ABC immediately followed with quick clips of Black lamenting "Terri Schiavo 24 hours a day on every channel. Here comes Terri." And: "Dick Cheney. [Audience groans.] And that's all I got to say."

'20/20' Channels Lewis Black's Anger at God and Bush

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[8mmMauser]

How original, how straight from the heart or whatever replaced it...

Thread by wagglebee on the brilliant Baroness, the peerless Peeress.

LONDON, February 1, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Seriously disabled children should be considered non-persons and would be better off having been aborted, according to a Peer speaking in the House of Lords Tuesday. Attempting to couch her assertion in terms of children's "rights", Molly Baroness Meacher told the Lords that children born with severe disabilities are "not viable people".

The comments came as the Lords debated an amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, put forward by Lady Swinton, Baroness Masham of Ilton, that would have protected unborn disabled children from abortion after the 24 week gestational time limit. The amendment was defeated by 89 votes to 22...........

Disabled Children Better Off Aborted: House of Lords Peeress

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[8mmMauser]

Chinese soup...

Thread by wagglebee.

"China has become a nation who without conscience aborts their own future generations. And this is Satan's ultimate victory here. Is this conscience loss regarding the transcendent dignity and inherent right of human life to be blamed exclusively on atheistic Communism? Have not the recent influences of Western morals of secular humanism, materialism, hedonism, and ultimately unmitigated egoism, also contributed to this Chinese terrorism of the womb? In any case, the combination amounts to self-inflicted Chinese genocide, which so saddens the God that creates and loves the ethnical uniqueness of China.

"New macabre manifestations of this conscienceless abortion mentality include the recent opening of five restaurants in the region of X, which began serving 'fetal soup' at the price of 300 Yuan (approximately $40) a bowl! Recent medical publications have praised the exceptional health benefits for the consuming of 'fetal remains' (this jargon allows them to overlook what this really is-unborn baby bodies). Therefore, local entrepreneurs jumped on the opportunity to distribute this new health breakthrough to the chosen few who could afford the price. So evil and scandalous is this fetal soup trade that the Government shut down the Web sites advertising the restaurants, in fear that they would scandalize the reputation of the People's Republic to outside countries and businesses..............

Book Reveals Fetal Soup Served in Chinese Restaurants

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[mtbopfuyn]

Well, of course dad thinks this is the way to go. Remember, the media claimed Terri felt nothing and had no idea she was being tortured. Too many live with their heads in the sand.

[mtbopfuyn]

Removing a feeding tube is a hundred times worse than holding a pillow over the patient’s head yet one is acceptable (in some circles) while the other will send you to prison.

[wagglebee]

Remember, the media claimed Terri felt nothing and had no idea she was being tortured. Too many live with their heads in the sand.

Yet they had no explanation why Terri screamed when she was told that they were going to kill her.

And what about feeling "euphoric" when you are being starved/dehydrated to death? How does someone who is "brain dead" and "doesn't feel anything" experience euphoria?

[floriduh voter]

LAURA RICHARDSON was on Hannity & Colmes. Her dad is a decent person and just wants to take care or Laura. They showed pictures of her - a beauty. She's still a beauty and can get the nurses to the room if she needs something. That is not a coma or pvs if she is communicating.

So, what death cultist got to mom? Is the aclu pushing mom or helping her?

What state is Laura in?

[floriduh voter]

World Net Daily: Laura Richardson

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=60010

[Amendment10]

Although the following article doesn't mention a coma, firefighter Donald Herbert was evidently in such a state for about 10 years before he woke up.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,155344,00.html

[8mmMauser]

We have opened Terri Dailies in the interest of increasing attention to the plight of Lauren Richardson, as one may note in posts here. And we still watch what is happening to Javona. Here is the new Terri Dailies:

Lauren Richardson Becomes Next Terri Schiavo as Parents Debate Euthanasia (Delaware)

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