How do you get through to a distraught mom (with lawyer advising,) and tell her that killing her daughter will not bring the relief she craves? She may cry, "peace, peace," but peace will not come if she does it.
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She is ready to say goodbye.
The Rhode Island mother set to begin a court battle Monday in Bronx Supreme Court to have her comatose teen daughter removed from life support wants her child "to go in peace."
"She's just lying there. I mean, she's alive, you could say, but that's it," said Janet Joseph, distraught over the vegetative state of her daughter Javona Peters, 16.
Standing in the way of Joseph's wishes is Javona's father, Leonard Peters of Mount Vernon. He wants his daughter to stay on life support.
The estranged parents are set to embark on what lawyers in the case said could become a long and complex struggle. Both want to become Javona's guardian, responsible for Javona's rights in any personal injury lawsuit, as well as any medical decisions.
A judge meanwhile may appoint an outside guardian to represent Javona's legal interests, according to Edward Gersowitz, an lawyer for Joseph.
Further complicating the issue is the possibility that the court will ask an independent physician to evaluate Javona's medical records and physical state.
Javona, a high school athlete who has lived with her mom since birth, fell into a coma Oct. 17 at Montefiore Medical Center, after what was supposed to be routine surgery to drain cerebral fluid.
The teen was transferred from Montefiore last week to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston.
Court battle for mother wanting comatose daughter to 'go in peace'
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"We will not be silent. We are your bad conscience. The White Rose will give you no rest."