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Scary article- pregnant women and DNR rights

tbmadeamistaketbmadeamistake member
in June 2014 Moms
https://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/texas-father-barred-taking-pregnant-wife-off-life-200600388.html

The article above is about a woman who is brain dead due to an embolism...and is also 18 weeks pregnant.  She has been on life support for the past 4 weeks and the Texas laws will not let her husband unplug her, per her wishes, because she is pregnant.  I could understand this better if she were further along and if she hadn't been without oxygen for long enough to end up brain dead...but at this stage in the pregnancy and with no idea how the baby was affected by her lack of oxygen, I don't agree.  I think it's shocking that because we are pregnant, certain states have laws that take away our right to make end of life decisions.  Thoughts?

Married DH 7/30/11

CSC arrived 5/7/12 

CHC arrived 6/2/14

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Re: Scary article- pregnant women and DNR rights

  • nunzchucksnunzchucks member
    This is so sad for this family. I wish there was more information, though. Are they able to give the woman enough IV nutrition to sustain the baby? Can they not check for viability through ultrasound?
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  • Yasm33naYasm33na member
    Regardless of point of view... This is just an incredibly sad situation... I can't imagine being in that poor mans position.
    Beatrice- bfp September 16 2013, born February 1 2014 died later same day.
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  • liberty95liberty95 member
    What a horrendously tragic situation.
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  • curlylocks3curlylocks3 member
    edited December 2013
    I think it's horrendous that prior to viability that right to make a decision has been taken away and reduced a woman to being nothing more than an incubator.

    @lilnunz1 I'm sure they are giving her IV nutrition but that's not without it's own risks. And no way to tell how baby will be affected until birth.

    Not to hijack completely, but this made me think of the case just last week in CA when the 13 year old was brain dead after a tonsillectomy with lots of blood loss. Her family was fighting to keep her on a ventilator even though every test showed she was brain dead and they were told that legally they can't. So strange how different the rules are.
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  • nunzchucksnunzchucks member
    Thanks @curlylocks3!
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  • Luna CLuna C member
    LilNunz1 said:
    This is so sad for this family. I wish there was more information, though. Are they able to give the woman enough IV nutrition to sustain the baby? Can they not check for viability through ultrasound?
    Viability is one thing, any semblance of quality of life is another. At this stage, I'm guessing they can tell if the fetus is still alive, but not the extent of any brain damage it may have suffered in utero. Horrifying prospect for the poor husband/father. My heart weeps for them. 

    It must be hard enough to make the decision to pull the plug on your spouse and then to have this kind of aftermath... I can't even imagine. 
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  • eryaleeryale member
    edited December 2013
    This is devastating on so many levels... It's a very backwards world when a person's firm wishes and rights can be denied because she is pregnant. Besides, the mother's oxygen deprivation for an unknown amount of time (but enough to turn her blue and essentially kill her) is a huge concern for that fetus. Beyond that, how is it possible that complete immobility and artificial nutrition is enough to nurture the fetus growing inside of her and insure a healthy outcome? Finally, I'm afraid if this baby arrives but gravely damaged, the quality of life for their other baby and her husband will suffer tremendously... I hope she beats the laws Texas is imposing on her body, along with those machines keeping her "alive" and somehow passes away anyway. There's no peace in this story, but I feel her passing and closure for this family is the best case scenario. I dont usually weigh in on these kinds of posts, but this one struck a major chord. Truly devastating...
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  • allrightmeowallrightmeow member
    That's insane.  
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  • sjn00sjn00 member
    edited December 2013
    curlylocks3 said:

    Not to hijack completely, but this made me think of the case just last week in CA when the 13 year old was brain dead after a tonsillectomy with lots of blood loss. Her family was fighting to keep her on a ventilator even though every test showed she was brain dead and they were told that legally they can't. So strange how different the rules are.

    She is still is on life support. Her family goes to court today to see if they can get a secon opinion.. Understandably, they don't trust the doctors that are saying "she is dead, dead, dead" because "they put her in this position in the first place" (what the parents have stated). If anything, they want to keep her on life support until after Christmas.. Which is also, very understandable!!! They are obviously having a hard time with this. I just hope they can find some comfort soon. Its not easy losing a child.
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