Out-of-Town Judge Condemns Baby Tinslee

[Elderberry]

Texas Scorecard by Robert Montoya January 2, 2020

Judge enforces 11-month-old Tinslee Lewis’ death sentence from Cook Children’s hospital. “I am heartbroken,” Tinslee’s mother says as she continues the fight to save her child.

Tweet this:

•   Judge Sandee Marion refused to protect 11-month-old Tinslee Lewis from @cookchildrens, meaning the hospital could end her "life-sustaining care." #TinsleeLewis #txlege

•   â€œI am heartbroken over today’s decision because the judge basically said Tinslee’s life is NOT worth living.” - Trinity Lewis, Tinslee's mother #TinsleeLewis #txlege

•   Tinslee's family is appealing the decision. Those concerned are encouraged to contact @GovAbbott and ask for a special session to repeal the 10-day-rule threatening Tinslee's life.

#TinsleeLewis #txlege

Today, a judge from San Antonio ruled that a North Texas hospital can stop treating an 11-month-old baby, leaving the baby’s family scrambling to save her life.

Baby Tinslee Lewis, born with congenital heart disease, is currently at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth and relies on a ventilator to live. On October 31, despite the objections of her mother, the hospital announced it would remove Tinslee’s ventilator on November 10.

As justification for this decision, the hospital did not provide any reasons relating to bodily health—only a vague “quality-of-life” argument.

The hospital’s action is legal under Texas’ controversial 10-day rule, which allows a hospital committee to end “life-sustaining care” even if the patient, or his or her surrogate, objects; the law also overrides a duly executed medical power of attorney or advance directive from the patient.

More: https://texasscorecard.com/local/out-of-town-judge-condemns-baby-tinslee/

[Gefn]

Baby can be removed from life support at hospital, Texas judge rules


January 2, 2020 / 6:09 PM
A Texas judge on Thursday sided with a hospital that plans to remove an 11-month-old girl from life support, after her mother disagreed with the decision by doctors who say the infant is in pain and that her condition will never improve. Trinity Lewis had asked Judge Sandee Bryan Marion, the chief justice of Texas' Fourth Court of Appeals, to issue an injunction to ensure that the Cook Children's Medical Center doesn't end her daughter Tinslee Lewis' life-sustaining treatment

Doctors at the Fort Worth hospital had planned to remove Tinslee from life support Nov. 10 after invoking Texas' "10-day rule," which can be employed when a family disagrees with doctors who say life-sustaining treatment should be stopped. The law stipulates that if the hospital's ethics committee agrees with doctors, treatment can be withdrawn after 10 days if a new provider can't be found to take the patient.

Hospital officials have said they reached out to more than 20 facilities to see if one would take Tinslee, but all agreed that further care is futile. "Today's decision from Chief Justice Sandee B. Marion restores the ability of the Cook Children's medical staff to make the most compassionate and medically appropriate decisions for Tinslee as she struggles in pain to survive each day. This is an emotional and difficult situation for everyone involved, especially for this family who had high hopes that Tinslee would get better," the hospital said in a statement.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tinslee-lewis-baby-can-be-removed-from-life-support-cook-childrens-medical-center-texas-judge-rules-today-2020-01-02/#

[berdie]

I know I'll be hammered for this...but I'm conflicted of the decision.

If this child is not able to be saved and will be kept on life support all her life...is that moral?

I do feel the utmost sorrow for the family.

[Elderberry]

Court grants order to keep Texas baby on life support

Houston Chronicle 1/3/2020

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/texas/article/Court-grants-order-to-keep-Texas-baby-on-life-14948731.php

A Texas appeals court on Friday agreed to delay a judge’s ruling that would have allowed a hospital to end life-sustaining treatment for an 11-month-old girl who doctors say is in pain and will not get better.

The Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth ordered Cook Children's Medical Center to not remove Tinslee Lewis from life support until it makes a final ruling in the case. The appeals court did not immediately schedule any hearings in the case.

On Thursday, a judge in Tarrant County denied a request by Tinslee’s mother, Trinity Lewis, to issue an injunction that would have stopped the hospital from removing her daughter from life support.