Baby dies after becoming center of life support debate

by Mary Polleys

19 month old Emilio Gonzales died on May 20, 2007 after becoming the center of an ethical and legal debate: who should decide when life sustaining treatments are ceased?
Gonzales was believed to have Leigh's disease, a progressive illness which destroys brain functions and has been on respirators since December of 2006. While doctors sought to take him off the life giving machines insisting that there was no chance for recovery, his mother fought in court to maintain his medical care.
Because of this kind of situation, doctors want to invoke a state law (in Texas) allowing the hospital to stop life support after a 10-day notice for patients deemed medically futile.
Gonzales did not have his life support machines turned off due to a judge’s temporary decision to block the hospital’s move to end life support in April, but sadly he died anyways, only a month later.
While it may seem insensitive to even suggest to a parent that their child be taken off life support apparatus, the truth is that they are merely taking a human out of its misery. Someone, young or old, who has lost all cognitive function and can no longer move or do normal tasks on their own and has no chance for recovery should not be kept alive by a family member that is just not willing to let go.
Hospitals should have a policy and process they go through with each case that has the potential for being a similar situation to Gonzales. Guidelines should be established and followed and once certain facts have been established, the family of the person should be given a generous date. Either the family decides to take off the life support on their own before the date arrives, or the hospital will proceed on that date while making the proper arrangements.