Texas judge declares pregnant woman dead, orders hospital remove life support

Jana J. Pruet, REUTERS

First posted: Friday, January 24, 2014 05:39 PM EST | Updated: Friday, January 24, 2014 07:27 PM EST 

        

 A Texas judge on Friday ordered a Fort Worth hospital to remove a brain-dead pregnant woman from life support. (Fotolia)

FORT WORTH, Texas - A Texas judge on Friday ordered a Fort Worth hospital to remove a brain-dead pregnant woman from life support, after her husband argued the fetus she has been forced to carry under state law is withering in her lifeless body.

The judge ruled that Marlise Munoz, now about 22 weeks pregnant, is dead. She has been on life support in a hospital since Nov. 26 after suffering what her husband, Erick, believes was a pulmonary embolism.
District Judge R.H. Wallace gave John Peter Smith Hospital until Monday at 5 p.m. U.S. Central Time (2300 GMT) to remove the ventilator.

"The defendants are ordered to pronounce Mrs. Munoz dead and remove the ventilator and all other 'life-sustaining' treatment from the body of Marlise Munoz," the judgment read.

Under Texas law, a person may not withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment from a pregnant patient, even if there is a "do not resuscitate" request from the patient or if the family of the patient seeks to end life support.

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/01/24/texas-judge-declares-pregnant-woman-dead-orders-hospital-remove-life-support