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Regarding the last question in your original post ... MistyCA is correct. The hospital has to cover their butts. I'm sure there were legal issues involved with the fact that the parents were minors. It is imperative for EVERY ONE OF US to craft a "living will" specifying what life-support measures we wish to receive, and under which conditions we do not want further maintanence measures. This is an unbelievably crucial family matter that everyone needs to work out in advance with clear heads. Take the issue out the hands of your kids - you decide when the "plug" should be pulled. In the case of a newborn with parents who can't be held to a contract, that's a more complex issue. Lawsuits are an unfortunate, and unbelievably expensive, burden throughout the healthcare/insurance industry.

Thanks for the supportive comments. IMO, you are right-on. My heart aches for the tragic loss of this child and the burden it places on everyone involved. But your comments also bring up the subject of the parents being minors and the doctors over-riding their opinion because of their age. This may not be the appropriate place to bring this up, but it really ticks me off in view of the doctors and laws that now support the right of a child to make their own health care decisions when it comes to their reproductive issues.

In California I, as a parent of a minor, can not even call the doctor and discuss anything with regard to my child's reproductive issues without my child's consent! What could possibly be more ludicrous than that?? And now in this situation there is a suggestion that the parent's young age might make them unable to make that decision? So who on earth ultimately has the decision-making ability here....the doctors? Now that, imo, is just wrong! But we are talking about a whole new thread here. :)

I will pray for the family and the child that they find comfort and strength during this horribly tragic time in their lives.