Houston Hospital Votes To End Woman's Life With Bush Law

[UpInArms]

http://www.northcountrygazette.org/articles/042406HoustonLife.html

HOUSTON---The countdown has begun on the life of Andrea Clark, a patient at St. Luke's Hospital.

Six days left.

No, she's not terminal, her family says and she's not brain dead. Her sisters say that she wants to live. The Houston hospital is going to unilaterally remove a woman from life support, apparently based on the decision of a lone physician even though her family wants her to continue to receive care.

The central issue in the Andrea Clark case is the same as that in the Terri Schindler Schiavo case, whether the state should be able to sanction the removal of a human being from life support.

What's even more significant in the Clark case is that the Texas bill that allows health care providers to end a human life despite the wishes of the patient and the patient's family was signed into law in 1999 by President George W. Bush as Texas Governor. However, in 2005, he rushed back to the White House from Easter vacation to sign a bill rushed through Congress which was designed to save the life of Terri Schiavo because of his "presumption in favor of life".

<snip>

"Andrea, when she is not medicated into unconsciousness (and even when she is, and the medication has worn off to some degree) is aware and cognizant", her sister said. "She has suffered no brain damage to the parts of her brain responsible for thought and reason or speech. She has only suffered loss of some motor control. The reason that the physician gave to medicate her so much is that she is suffering from intractable pain in the sacral region (in other words, she has a bedsore that causes her pain). This is not reason enough, in our books, and we are trying, as we speak, to get Andrea's medication lowered so that she can speak to us.

...more...

WTF?

[Syrinx]

1. more Republican hypocrisy!

I'm not shocked, are you?

[rpannier]

2. The Republican Culture of Life...Again

Kill the living... save the non-living.

[Nicole]

3. Her sister is a DU member & has posted about this

Her DU name is Th1onein

Here's a couple of those threads.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=997301

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=986779

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1017296

[UpInArms]

4. thanks Nicole

I didn't know how very close to home that horrific article was.

:cry:

[Oversea Visitor]

5. n/t

:kick:

[salin]

8. I am glad to read that it has made it into a local paper

I hope that before it is too late, that it makes it into more broadly read media.

:cry:

[malaise]

14. Indeed n/t

[rucky]

54. It's on some editors' desks right now.

what happens after that is out of my hands.

[Nicole]

60. You're welcome

:kick:

[wicket]

16. I was wondering if it was the same person

Thanks.

:cry:

[OneBlueSky]

6. how can they possibly reconcile this position with . . .

all that stupid shit they engaged in to "save" Teri Schiavo? . . . (apologies if I mis-spelled the name) . . .

[Tigress DEM]

62. Different time, different agenda. Needed a distraction with Teri...

balancing the budget on the backs of the poor and those unable to fight back was the agenda in Texas '99.

Photo Ops are full of *ush's compassion, then he goes and cuts the funding to the same group or groups within a week. Got his picture with cute little black kids in LA and then took everything with him even the lights when he went and STILL hasn't done anything of real value for Katrina victims.

OR it could be that the REAL Agenda is.... WE ARE THE PARTY IN POWER. WE WILL TELL YOU WHEN YOU CAN DIE AND WHEN YOU CAN'T. IT IS ALL ABOUT US HAVING ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY OVER EVERY FREAKING THING IN YOUR LIFE AND YOU HAVING TO SUCK IT UP AND DO AS YOU ARE TOLD WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.

I guess that makes the most sense, in light of their irrational behavior. :crazy:

[acmavm]

7. Of course it's a bill signed by bush**. He spreads death everywhere he

goes.

[spinbaby]

9. Start emailing this article to everyone you know

ESPECIALLY to any born-again right-to-life types you know.

[Tigress DEM]

64. Interesting Sidebar.... Leadership Award to Daniel Montez, CEO

See, the problem is this is a poor person who needs treatment more than once or twice a week like you can get at a poor people's clinic.


http://www.slehc.org/AboutUs/News_Events/Detail/CommunityHealth_LeadershipAward_2005.cfm

Daniel Montez, CEO, Houston Community Health Center (HCHC), is being honored as recipient of the First Annual Community Health Leadership Award 2005 by St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities. Mr. Montez spearheaded the transformation of a boarded-up cantina into a primary health care clinic in the Denver Harbor area, helping to revitalize a neighborhood and bringing much-needed health services to a previously underserved community.

The Denver Harbor Clinic serves the working poor of Houston’s near-downtown Denver Harbor/Port of Houston neighborhoods. Residents are predominantly Hispanic and a third of households fall below federal poverty income guidelines. In 2001, the clinic began operating one day a week in a local church, in part with support from St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities.

Within a year, it was open two days a week and Mr. Montez, an experienced accountant and former assistant director of grants and contracts at The University of Texas Health Science Center, had begun working half-time for HCHC. As a result of a major grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation matched by other funders, by October 2003 the clinic was operating 40 hours a week and preparing to remodel the former cantina nearby. Mr. Montez realized that it would cost no more to raze the old building than to remodel it, and believed that the juxtaposition of the renovated building with its former use would be dramatic and inspirational.

[Tigress DEM]

66. How about the Episcopal Diocese of Texas?

With Four nominees for Suffragan Bishop meeting this Saturday, someone could bring up the topic "In the name of GOD, do not let St Luke's pull the plug on Andrea!"

http://www.epicenter.org/edot/Default.asp

Four local clergy have been nominated for Suffragan Bishop. The election will be held at Christ Church Cathedral, Houston on April 29 preceded by a forum the previous evening to allow delegates and other interested people to meet the nominees.

The Venerable Dena Harrison, Archdeacon and Canon for Ministry in the Diocese of Texas; the Rev. James McGill, Canon Missioner at Christ Church Cathedral, Houston; the Rev. Albert Rodriguez, rector of St. John's, Austin and the Rev. Frankie Rodriquez, rector of Calvary, Richmond have been nominated. No additional nominees will be accepted in order for all background checks to be completed prior to the election. Spanish translations of nominees information will be available online March 15.

[Tigress DEM]

68. Done. (post 67) Now for those 4 nominees.

Venerable Dena Harrison [e-mail]
How about the rest of the Diocese staff?
http://www.epicenter.org/edot/Diocesan_Staff.asp?SnID=73558138


Rev. James McGill [e-mail]
And there are SEVERAL more Ministers and even IT Support Staff listed who might care.
http://www.christchurchcathedral.org/default.asp?Mode=DirectoryDisplay&DirectoryUseAbsoluteOnSearch=True&id=116


Rev. Albert Rodriguez - Not so technically inclined - no email.
St John's Episcopal Church "A Place to Grow Spiritually"
11201 Parkfield Drive, at Braker Lane, Austin, Texas 78758
Phone [phone], Fax [phone]



Rev. Frankie Rodriguez [e-mail] (This guy, I actually like.)
Prayer Request to Calvary --- that link not working in middle of night. May be maint.
http://kepha.ns2000.net/webs/x002calvarychurch/prayer_requests.htm

[Tigress DEM]

70. oops! post 69 for letter to Dena

[Tigress DEM]

71. Father Rodriguez

Dear Father Rodriguez,

Of all the nominees for Bishop Suffragan you seem to me the kind of person I would be able to talk to about anything. Please hear my prayer for Andrea Clark and do everything you can to help.

St Luke's Hospital was established by the Episcopal Diocese in 1954, so as I see it, that makes the Church capable of advising them on life and death matters that are fully by choice of the doctor and against the patient's expressed wishes when she isn't drugged up.

I totally don't understand how a hospital that owes so much of its being on the map to a house that worships the name of Jesus could throw the switch on a person who desires so much to live and whose family has communicated that to the doctors and staff in the first place, but there's a law in Texas that is being abused and Andrea will pay the ultimate price if no one stands up for her. In Minnesota and in Washington DC I have seen clergy unite to challenge unjust laws. I hope you are of that calibur.

Her family says in her lucid moments Andrea is interacting with them and has expressed her desire to stay on life support. At the very least a solid investigation should go forward to determine the facts before causing her certain death. Her sister reached out to the DemocraticUnderground so now on behalf of about 80,000 people across the nation and in a few other countries as well I reach out to you. Can you help? She only has 6 days before the hospital pulls life support.

Please investigate how this hospital is abusing the name of God on your Diocese's charity. If you do not, you are complicit with this murder. Please forgive me if that was harsh, but I feel I must speak as plainly as possible to help give Andrea a fighting chance.

Thank You.

God Bless us all, not just a chosen few.

[Tigress DEM]

72. Father McGill

Subject: Please help Andrea Clark. St Lukes hospital will stop life support in 6 days.

Dear Father McGill,

Please hear my prayer for Andrea Clark and do everything you can to help.

St Luke's Hospital was established by the Episcopal Diocese in 1954, so as I see it, that makes the Church capable of advising them on life and death matters that are fully by choice of the doctor and against the patient's expressed wishes when she isn't drugged up.

I totally don't understand how a hospital that owes so much of its being on the map to a house that worships the name of Jesus could throw the switch on a person who desires so much to live and whose family has communicated that to the doctors and staff in the first place, but there's a law in Texas that is being abused and Andrea will pay the ultimate price if no one stands up for her. In Minnesota and in Washington DC I have seen clergy unite to challenge unjust laws. I hope you are of that calibur.

Her family says in her lucid moments Andrea is interacting with them and has expressed her desire to stay on life support. At the very least a solid investigation should go forward to determine the facts before causing her certain death. Her sister reached out to the DemocraticUnderground so now on behalf of about 80,000 people across the nation and in a few other countries as well I reach out to you. Can you help? She only has 6 days before the hospital pulls life support.

Please investigate how this hospital is abusing the name of God on your Diocese's charity. If you do not, you are complicit with this murder. Please forgive me if that was harsh, but I feel I must speak as plainly as possible to help give Andrea a fighting chance.

Thank You.

God Bless us all, not just a chosen few.

[girl gone mad]

10. I wish someone in the WH press corps..

would have the courage to bring up this case.

[leftchick]

11. this needs to make the NYT

and 24/7 on CNN! See the Hypocrisy yet M$M???

K&R

[anotherdrew]

34. shame on the media for not mentioning this texas bill before

how convenient that no one in texas remembered to bring this bush bill to the nation attention during the feeding tube affair.

[kurth]

12. Paging Dr. DeLay. Paging Dr. Frist. Paging Dr. Bush!

[johncoby2]

13. You mean Dr Larry, Dr Moe, Dr Curly.

[0007]

30. At your service

[GeorgeGist]

15. We're not getting the whole story...

Below is a subsection of the relevant Texas law regarding the ethics committee review. As I read it, the patient or person responsible is entitled to attend and receive a written explanation of the decision. Yet in this article and others posts on DU, I have yet to see or hear the ethics committee explanation. And I assume under HIPPA, the patient or responsible person must give consent to have the info made public.

"(b) The patient or the person responsible for the health
care decisions of the individual who has made the decision
regarding the directive or treatment decision:
(1) may be given a written description of the ethics or
medical committee review process and any other policies and
procedures related to this section adopted by the health care
facility;
(2) shall be informed of the committee review process
not less than 48 hours before the meeting called to discuss the
patient's directive, unless the time period is waived by mutual
agreement;
(3) at the time of being so informed, shall be
provided:
(A) a copy of the appropriate statement set forth
in Section 166.052; and
(B) a copy of the registry list of health care
providers and referral groups that have volunteered their readiness
to consider accepting transfer or to assist in locating a provider
willing to accept transfer that is posted on the website maintained
by the Texas Health Care Information Council under Section 166.053;
and
(4) is entitled to:
(A) attend the meeting; and
(B) receive a written explanation of the decision
reached during the review process. ..."
more> http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/HS/content/htm/hs.002.00.000166.00.htm

[verdalaven]

19. Paperwork, meetings, written explanations

I am sure the doctors had all their ducks in a row. I think what rubs most of us the wrong way is the coldness of this law and the fact that the so called "right-to-lifers" don't seem to have a problem with it. And this woman isn't brain dead. Shouldn't she be given the choice to end her life?
If they cannot find another facility for her, the hospital will end it for her, regardless of what she, or her family wants.

The first time I'd ever heard about this law was around the time Terri Shiavo died. A Texas hospital decided to euthanize an 18 month old baby named Sun. He was as bad off as Terri Shiavo, I do believe he was brain dead and would never recover, and I wouldn't advocate keeping a living shell alive forever; but what gets me is no one protested his death. Not one right-to-lifer came to his defense. I didn't hear about this on MSM, I read it in a paper. While Bush was riding back to Washington on his white horse to defend the life of Terri Shiavo, his lousy law was killing an 18 month old baby. Right to life? Yeah, whatever. :eyes:

The hypocrisy of it is mind-boggling.

[sleepyhead]

48. You didn't hear much about Sun

because he had the great misfortune to have been born into a non-wealthy family and had the "wrong" color skin, IIRC. That explains both the lack of MSM coverage and the lack of interest by the right-to-life crowd.

[Igel]

26. The patient or his/her reps also have a period of

time in which s/he can get a second opinion--if a place is found that disagrees with termination of life support, and will take the patient, the patient gets transferred.

No, much of the story isn't told. The OP only makes sense if the patient's family is insistent on either overturning a DNR order or if they absolutely, positively demand that these doctors in this hospital/care center provide care.

Or, of course, if they've actually gotten other opinions from other doctors and they all agree that she's terminal.

[cantstandbush]

17. Anybody send this to KO? I am going to but I bet anything all the

MSM outlets have been told to not cover this story because of how badly the Rethugs were burned over Terri. However, this patient isn't brain dead and is fully cognizant when not over medicated, she's just poor and can't afford the expensive treatment. I am fucking angry at the Dems for not pointing out the hypocrisy of the Rethugs and not championing this family's case. Where the fuck are all those "spokespeople" for human and civil rights?!!!!

[AzDar]

18. Funny, how Ms. Schiavo's name has morphed into Terri 'Schindler'

Schiavo...I guess the parents aren't through exploiting her yet.
Where are all those 'crusaders' NOW?

[Media_Lies_Daily]

20. Eugenics, here we come.

[Patiod]

21. This is not hypocritical, it's logical

If you're a Republican, you're pro-life, but you're pro-profits FIRST.

So it's Profits #1, then after that, all the other nice things like pro-life, anti-homosexuality, etc. But not if they might impinge on profits.

Profits first, got it?

[babylonsister]

22. Related thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x986779

[Dragonbreathp9d]

23. Dear lord, can we flood the MSM with this story to see if they will pick i

[Karmakaze]

24. Well....

See that was why nobody should have been arguing that Terri Schiavo should be killed. They did, she was, and now this sort of thing is even HARDER to fight.

Good job people.

[Bridget Burke]

25. Sorry--the cases are not identical.

The issue is whether a patient's wishes should be considered in end-of-life decisions. This patient does not appear to be as "gone" as poor Ms Schiavo. And her next-of-kin are arguing for her life--there's no family squabble.

[melissinha]

29. exactly, that ALL of her next of kin AGREE

If I remember the initial posts by her sister correctly they have a lawyer and have tried all avenues available, even relocation. What kills me is that she is so medicated that she cannot make her wishes known.

[Scriptor Ignotus]

27. i wouldn't say its apples and oranges

but there are some key differences in the two cases.

In the Schiavo case a family member (the husband) wanted his wife to pass on. In this case, it appears no family member is advocating for pulling the plug, it's only the Hospital ethics committee. Clark has also only been in a coma for a few months, not years.

Seems like a different set of circumstances than the Schiavo case.

[loyalsister]

77. The conversation was corrupted during the Shiavo drama

by all of the antagonism and extremity, however.
The issue before us now is the very one that the Not Dead Yet people have some concerns over.
Bottom line, current public policy offers us a "right to die" before it offers us a "right to live," and there is room for possible abuse of that paradox.
Someone pointed out the regs above. Not sure who said it: "Never forget, everything Hitler did was legal."

[Karmakaze]

82. Thats the point Im trying to make...

When you start re-drawing the lines, you make it harder to argue against ANOTHER redrawing of the lines. So when you say "The husband should be able to decide", you start the process towards "The doctor should be able to decide" and then towards "the insurance comapny should be able to decide".

Seriously, what is the difference between taking the word of a husband, and taking the word of a doctor? The husband says "she wants to die", the doctor says "she is going to die and all we are doing is drawing out the process". In both cases someone is arguing that the patients quality of life will not improve, and expensive treatment is doing nothing but delay the inevitable.

This IS the slippery slope.

Essentially, I believe medical treatment should NEVER be withheld, but especially when the patient can't speak for themself. I totally support the family in this case, but I suspect its going to be hard to convince anyone after the Schiavo case.

[mondo joe]

31. Nobody DID argue that Terri Schiavo "should be killed" but that

her wishes regarding life suppport should be upheld.

That case was not "this sort of thing".

[Karmakaze]

85. I guess that depends...

on your definition of "Life Support". As far as I am concerned food and water is not "life support". Even though you are perfectly healthy, if YOU are denied food and water (say I locked you in a box) then you would die (and I would be a murderer). Dialysis or a respirator IS "Life Support" in that if you have a medical condition requiring it, without that specific treatment you will die - however if you do NOT have such a condition then you don't need those treatments and will not die without them.

To me it is a subtle but important difference. In the Schiavo case, she was KILLED, not allowed to die. She was specifically DENIED what every living person requires to stay alive, not a medical treatment for a medical condition, but the bare necessities for survival.

No one should be refused medical treatment for ANY reason, specifically because once you do that, the reasons for doing it become flexible. Today its because the patients next of kin wants to, now it seems its because the doctors want to. In the future it could become because the insurance campanies or government want to. Once you redraw the lines, it becomes harder and harder to argue against AOTHER redrawing of the lines.

[Zodiak]

86. I understand your logic here, except for one difference

While food and water are necessary for life, the delivery of said food and water had to take a form of "treatment". Shiavo could not chew or swallow.

Not the same as locking a person in a box.

Not that I disagree with your statements about denying medical treatment. I agree that medical treatment should not be withheld for any reason except the direct wishes of the patient. Yes, I said "direct"....no assurances and uncorroborated testimony from others.

[sandnsea]

40. Family choice, that's what was argued

And her husband was the next of kin. She also was brain dead and in Texas, they are removing life support from people who are not brain dead without the family's consent. It's perfectly consistent with the Schiavo case. The right to lifers helped write this bill, they're the ones who are completely inconsistent on the matter.

[stillcool]

57. horse crap.

[klook]

28. The government should have NO role in this decision,

one way or the other. It's a private matter for the patient and the patient's family to decide.

[goclark]

32. Kick for an update from the family

Prayers

[liberalla]

42. Here's an update from Andrea's sister

posted at 11:20 this morning!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1017296&mesg_id=1030463

"Andrea has until Sunday and we're not giving up on her. Please, don't you give up either. You have so much power; you have no idea the power that you have resting in that keyboard, there, right in front of you."

more at link above

[goclark]

58. Keep those kicks coming throughout the night

[formercia]

33. Remember all of the protesters when Terry S. was being 'pulled' ?

Somebody must have a list of all of the Right-to-Lifers that protested. Send them all a copy, then we can see where they stand on this one. It would be interesting to watch the reaction.

[bunkerbuster1]

37. They are on this, actually...

Some of them, anyway. Have a look.

http://www.rightwingnews.com/archives/week_2006_04_23.PHP#005606

there's a WingnutDeli story linked there as well:

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49888

very interesting, huh?

[sandnsea]

41. I'll be darned, I emailed them

Back on April 6 when I first heard about this. I never thought I'd see them actually get involved. Wow. I guess I'll have to email them back and take back some of what I said.

[liberalla]

44. Andrea's sister has posted an update

at 11:20 this morning.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1017296&mesg_id=1030463

"...the internet and the people who use it changed all of that. You guys and the right to life people changed the political and social landscape on this issue. This hospital is now under immense pressure from you and from the right to life people. Democrats and Republicans have joined together on this one."

"Andrea has until Sunday and we're not giving up on her. Please, don't you give up either. You have so much power; you have no idea the power that you have resting in that keyboard, there, right in front of you."

more at link above

[Tigress DEM]

67. It's WORKING! More FUEL People. TYPE! TYPE! TYPE!

My message to the Episcopal Diocese of Texas
3203 West Alabama
Houston, TX 77098-1701
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]


email: [e-mail]


Subject: Please intervene with St Lukes Hospital for Andrea Clark


Dear Representative for the Episcopal Diocese,

Please hear my prayer for Andrea Clark and do everything you can to help.

St Luke's Hospital was established by the Diocese in 1954 and is ready to tarnish the name of God, St Luke, Episcopalians and physicians everywhere just to save some money. I know I'm only a Democrat but it seems to me if in her lucid moments this woman is interacting with her family and has expressed her desire to stay on life support, then at the very least a solid investigation should go forward to determine the facts before causing her certain death.

If Andrea had been in a brain dead coma for years and had said such a life was simply keeping her from going on to God, that would be something I would believe was between her and God and her doctor. But this woman is begging to live and the hospital keeps writing her eviction notices.

Her family is scrambling for a way to move her to a hospital that cares about her life, but those things take time and St Lukes has some sort of stop watch going. She has 6 days to live. It wouldn't be the first time a person who consciously voiced objections to being pulled from life support under the futile medical support law in Texas was murdered anyway, but I can't believe that a hospital that owes so much of its being on the map to a house that worships the name of Jesus could throw the switch on a person who desires so much to live and whose family has communicated that to the doctors and staff.

Please investigate how this hospital is abusing the name of God in your name, on your charity. If you do not, you are complicit with this murder.

Thank You.

God Bless us all, not just a chosen few.

[Tigress DEM]

69. Letter to the Venerable Dena

Subject: Don't let Andrea Clark die at St Lukes of Houston

Dear Dena,

I know you have a lot on your mind and heart as you contemplate this Bishop Suffragan election, but put that in God's hands and please hear my prayer for Andrea Clark and do everything you can to help.

St Luke's Hospital was established by the Episcopal Diocese in 1954 and I don't understand how a hospital that owes so much of its being on the map to a house that worships the name of Jesus could throw the switch on a person who desires so much to live and whose family has communicated that to the doctors and staff.

Her family says in her lucid moments this woman is interacting with them and has expressed her desire to stay on life support. At the very least a solid investigation should go forward to determine the facts before causing her certain death.

If Andrea had been in a brain dead coma for years and had said such a life was simply keeping her from going on to God, that would be something I would believe was between her and God and her doctor. But this woman is begging to live and the hospital keeps writing her eviction notices.

Her family is scrambling for a way to move her to a hospital that cares about her life, but those things take time and St Lukes has some sort of stop watch going. Her sister reached out to the DemocraticUnderground so now on behalf of about 80,000 people across the nation and in a few other countries as well I reach out to you. Will you have a Christian response - or are you just another kind of politician?

Please investigate how this hospital is abusing the name of God on your Diocese's charity. If you do not, you are complicit with this murder.

Thank You.

God Bless us all, not just a chosen few.

[Tigress DEM]

74. God Bless them if their faith and not the politics is what drove them...

with Teri. If they REALLY believe in the sacredness of life, then that is something special in this world.

[bunkerbuster1]

78. I do try to remember that

...even though I still believe what Rude Pundit says in my sig line, I know that the support for Terri's mom and dad wasn't *entirely* right-wing driven.

That said, I firmly believe that the Schaivo bungling was the beginning of the end of GWB's claimed "political capital."

[Karmakaze]

83. The question is...

what drove the people who were arguing against them? Why were so many people willing to take the opposite view in the Schiavo case to the one they are taking now?

[cap]

35. appeal formally to gov. perry

ask him why he's not doing a Jeb....appeal to the Father nutcase (i forget his name) in the schiavo affair to ask why he's not intervened....or does he only intervene for Republicans? What about all the pro-life groups in TX...where are they?

[Tigress DEM]

75. Ol' Good Hair Perry.

Say, how about Molly Ivins? Is she mum on this?

[pro_blue_guy]

36. FLIP-FLOP

[samhsarah]

38. This kind of shit...

Makes me more angry and heartbroken than I can express in words.

[warrens]

39. It is not the same as Schiavo

That case involved who was next of kin was and who could give permission to remove her life-support. This is a completely different matter.

[The Witch]

43. Have we e-mailed KO yet about this?

Maybe he can bring some of the hypocrisy to light.

Thoughts & prayers with this family.

[liberalla]

45. Yes, that should be done!

I emailed Michael Moore, because he's doing that movie on HMO's and has asked for people to share their health care horror stories.

I also called it in to screeners at Randi Rhodes and Mike Malloy yesterday.

Let's all email it to at least one media person!

I need to find KO's contact info.

[deadparrot]

46. Where's Hannity and O'Reilly? They camped out for Schiavo.

:shrug:

[Tsiyu]

47. kick

:kick:


How selective those Republicans are when it comes to who gets to live....:cry:

[BrklynLiberal]

49. Kicked and recommended

[Texaroo]

50. I am confused on this issue...

Do we really have a law that ignores living wills and patient rights that would allow someone capable of recovery to die? Something's missing here, folks - this seems to be a matter of a business lawfully refusing to incur the additional costs associated with artificially prolonging a life. Cold, yes, but it's a reaction to health care costs.

Sorry - I am sympathetic, but I keep hearing this on the local news here, and there are holes in the story. There was a similar case last year at the same hospital in which a man was transferred to a nursing home after he left the hospital, so there seem to be some options available to the family. Patients are referred to hospice care routinely if their chances of recovery (and not just improvement) look impossible.

The question here is whether the indigent in our system have the same health care rights as those who can afford to pay, or who have better insurance. I think we all know the answer to that one - if this person had means to pay St Luke's, she would be on life support indefinitely. THAT's what makes Bush's signature on the law such an insult. Do you think St Luke's would vote to unplug Barbara Bush under these circumstances?

At the same time, I do not advocate government intervention in this or any other similar case. This is very sad, but it seems the outcome is inevitable.

[Orangepeel]

51. ...issue in the Andrea Clark case is the same as in the... Schiavo case

"The central issue in the Andrea Clark case is the same as that in the Terri Schindler Schiavo case"

In fact, the issue is the exactly the opposite.

In the Schiavo case, the state was keeping a dead woman on life support against the wishes of next of kin. In this case, the state wants to kill a living woman against the wishes of her and her next of kin.

[Karmakaze]

84. The issue IS the same...

Just that you and the government have swapped sides, it sounds like.

The issue remains the same - should someone who will die without medical treatment, but who has no hope of recovery despite that treatment, be allowed to die by withholding treatment.

In fact it sounds like this case is even MORE cut and dried than the Schiavo case. In the Schiavo case what was being denied was food and water. She was KILLED. In this case the patient requires treatment to stay alive. Even if given food and water, she will die due to her medical condition.

[readmoreoften]

52. Can you give me something? (To the Sister of the Victim)

My partner's family is from Houston and I have tons of friends in Dallas and Austin. Can you give me the post you put up the other day in an email form that explains the situation? Such as:

Dear Friend,

You may not know me, but I am a Texan in a situation that may effect all our families some day... etc.


And could you sign it with contact info to prove that it is not a "hoax" (as you did before)

If you can PM me this (and you should post it, too) I will mass e-mail everyone I know in Texas. I think it's better to send an actual email than a link. Someone may not click on a link or want to sift through information.

I think we should all be up in arms over this and I want to help you motivate the base here.

Best Wishes.

[liberalla]

56. Here is the original post by the sister Th1onein (Melanie)

You can PM her with your request, or call her directly.

Posted on April 21st:

Fellow DUers:

My sister, Andrea Clarke, is at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston, TX. St. Luke's is located at:

6720 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX. Their phone number is: 832-355-1000.

The hospital ethics committee met the day before yesterday and concluded that Andrea's treatment (respirator and dialysis) should be discontinued. We have ten days to move her from that hospital or they will "pull the plug" and let Andrea die. Andrea, until a few days ago, when the physicians decided to increase her pain medication and anesthetize her into unconsciousness, was fully able to make her own medical decisions and had decided that she wanted life saving treatment until she dies naturally. We have learned that this is part of the process, when hospitals decided to declare the "medical futility" of continueing treatment for a patient. But, this is not a Terry Schiavo case; not anything like it. Andrea, when she is not medicated into unconsciousness (and even when she is, and the medication has worn off to some degree) is aware and cognizant. She has suffered no brain damage to the parts of her brain responsible for thought and reason, or speech. She has only suffered loss of some motor control. The reason that the physician gave to medicate her so much is that she is suffering from intractable pain in the sacral region (in other words, she has a bedsore that causes her pain). This is not reason enough, in our books, and we are trying, as we speak, to get Andrea's medication lowered so that she can speak to us.

There is also some disagreement as to whether Andrea is really in that much pain, as well. When she is not medicated to this degree, and she sees her son, Charles, she smiles. She also mouths words (Andrea is very vocal, normally, even with a trach, and asks for food, etc., when she is not medicated to the gills). Once again, this is not like the Shiavo case, where there was brain death. Andrea has voiced her wishes, over and over again, and if she were not on so much pain medication, she would voice them again.

Houston hospitals have a policy in that once the medical treatment of a patient has been deemed "medically futile" no other hospital in the area will accept transfer of that patient to their facility. This means that the patient, who is usually in a very delicate condition anyway, has to be transported over a long distance, in order to receive care.

We received notice of the ethics committee decision the day before yesterday and we are organizing a protest to take place tomorrow, at 2-2:30pm outside St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. Our family members number four and we will all be there, but we need more people. Please help us.

This protest is very likely to be filmed and get news coverage.

For those of you who will reply to this post with more questions, please see my other posts on this topic. I have done my best to answer all of your questions, but as you can imagine, my mind is not working as efficiently as it should, because I am upset. I assure you this is real; this is happening, and in Texas, medical professionals have the right, under the Futile Care Law, to discontinue life saving treatment, under these circumstances, even while the patient and the family is protesting that action. If you need more information, please see my other posts on this topic. For now, we need help, not questions or suggestions as to further courses of action. We are fighting on all fronts, ie., lawyers, news media, churches, internet, etc. We have left no stone unturned in this battle.

Many, many people, even some medical professionals in Texas, and other areas, don't know about this law. They have no idea that this can be done, and it is is being done every day in Texas hospitals, but is not covered by the news media. This needs to become common knowledge and this law needs to be overturned, of course, but we are fighting for the life of our sister. We are fighting to see that her wishes about how she lives, and how she dies, are honored. Perhaps these kinds of battles are fought in just this way, one by one, out of love, and this is how the war is won, in the end.

Please help us. Please lend your presence to our fight at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston, Texas, located at 6720 Bertner Ave. at 2-2:30pm CST tomorrow (Saturday). If you would like to bring a sign, please do so, because we only have a limited amount. If you don't, then please just bring yourself.

My name is Melanie Childers and my cell phone number is: 832-221-0897
My sister (not the one in the hospital, but the one handling the protest) is Lanore Dixon and her numbers are: (cell) 214-577-8160 and 254-874-5296. Please do not call us unless you are calling to request some information that I have not posted here. We have our phones glued to our heads, trying to find a hospital that will take Andrea, before her ten days are up at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. I am posting these numbers only to show you that this is not some kind of scam, or a joke or something even more idiotic.

Please help us.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=986779&mesg_id=986779

[readmoreoften]

65. thank you! /nt

[mia]

53. How about contacting John Edwards?

He's done litigation in the medical field.

[bonito]

55. If this girl has a caregiver to work with her

Than why end her life? life dosent give up, if it did, not one of us would be here.

[DearAbby]

59. Lets do our share

Send this article to your local news stations, they could possibly pick this up. Some news stations have a tip line you can click on the send News tips...Send this story with link along. Maybe we can get Nationwide exposure to this story.


On Edit:

Those lucky enough to have local AAR radio Stations with Local Talk show hosts. can send this as a News tip, that could help get the story out. Or can call in and tell the story. We have to set fire to this/double edit: Call the RW STATIONS TOO!

[bling bling]

61. The United States Media Is a FARCE

They covered the Schaivo story 18 hours a day, 7 days a week and NOBODY mentioned the bill Shrub signed in 1999 and the sheer hypocracy of his actions during the Schaivo capers???!?!

This country has lost its independent media. It's terrifying.

[bunkerbuster1]

79. Oh, some people mentioned it.

It got some play on Air America, and all around the Left Blogisphere, but yeah, Corporate Media didn't want anyone to know who Sun Hudson was.

[PatrioticLeftie]

63. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait a minute

What?

What the hell?

[Guaranteed]

73. I sent an email to CNN TV. I tried to make it as persuasive and

reasonable as possible.

Hopefully someone will see it and do the right thing.

[Judi Lynn]

76. Hoping Bush's anti-people law will not be the last word here.

DU'er Melanie and her family should NOT be facing this situation.

Hoping fervently they'll get some decent help from somewhere soon.

[Moderator]

80. Moderator note about this source

Please be advised that this site offers "pay to post"
There is no editorial control.

For a fee, anyone can have their story posted at this site.

[BlueInPhilly]

81. The Schiavo Priest

I believe his name is Fr. Frank Pavone and he is the founder of the Priests for Life Order. His website is:

http://www.priestsforlife.org/

And you can probably email him through this address: [e-mail]

I hope someone else can send him a note because... well, I've sent him some unflattering stuff in the past, so my name is probably already in the "ignore list".