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

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.

Please see #60. Bobby Schindler invited all GOP candidates by letter and I invited Fred Thompson via Florida staffers to meet with Bobby Schindler. If Fred would do that, Terri supporters may give him a closer look. He flip flopped on Terri and Bobby wants to talk to Fred about disability rights. If you know anyone who can urge Fred to contact Bobby (his birthday today), they just need to visit www.terrisfight.org

Mitt Romney so far is the only GOP candidate to meet with Terri's brother. Why won't Fred? I appreciate if you can find out. If you can do this for us and get a response from Camp Thompson, please freepmail me.

There are millions of Terri supporters out there who are for disability rights.

Media silence may be good. It may mean the family is reconsidering in Javona's favor. Besides, I talked to a disability advocate yesterday.

EVEN UNDER THE NOW DECEASED, CREEPY DR. CRANFORD'S STANDARDS, a diagnosis of PVS until many months or a year has passed is PREMATURE.

ARE ANY LAWS RE: PVS GUIDELINES BEING VIOLATED? This could throw the euthansiasts and mom under the bus if it is waaaay too soon to write Javona off.

Googling Dr. Cranford, googling Dr. Cranford. (watch for the disability groups to step up their involvement. They are NOT the religious right. They are a separate entity re: disability rights.

The MSM likes to paint these matters as battles between religious zealotry and science. WRONG!

We must not forget the disabled community and their powerful coalition.

People seeing patients lying there sometimes want the patient gone to stop their anxiety, not the patient's. It sounds like mom doesn't have peace and thinks ending her daughter's life suddenly will bring mom peace. It won't. Her anxiety about hospital beds and tubes will just turn into overwhelming guilt.

Let us not destroy lives because life is uncomfortable or not normal enough for us to handle.

Mom needs to pray and talk to her daughter because Jovana may very well hear her.

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