Good news! This update just in from Wesley Smith about Rachel Nyirahabiyambere, the severely brain damaged Rwandan immigrant whose feeding tube was removed after her family was removed from making medical decisions for her.
She was off sustenance for more than two weeks. Yet, she lives!
My sources have told me that the family obtained legal counsel, a court ordered food and fluids restored. More details as they become available. Great news.
But I think the hospital, the guardian, and the judge have a lot of explaining to do.
A lot of explaining, indeed. I was surprised to get quite a few “let me play devil’s advocate” comments in favor of the hospital on my previous post about this situation. I can see their claims, but, even if it’s a money issue for the hospital and the family wouldn’t take financial responsibility, I don’t think killing the patient is the correct answer – uh, especially for a Catholic hospital.
*UPDATE* According to LifeSiteNews the family is getting legal counsel from the Alliance Defense Fund. More to come, I’m sure.
Previous posts:
Immigrant Family Forced to Watch Mother Dehydrated to Death
Food and Water are Universal Human Rights
JP II, the Church on Withdrawing Nutrition and Hydration