Family of girl declared brain dead wants to remove her from hospital
The family of a 13-year-old girl who was declared brain dead after complications during a routine tonsillectomy wants to transfer the child to a nursing home that is willing to keep caring for her.
Jahi McMath has been on life support at Children’s Hospital Oakland since Dec. 12. Doctors contend that the child is no longer alive, and are pushing to take her off of life support.
Before the nursing home can accept the 13-year-old as a patient, however, doctors at Children’s Hospital Oakland need to surgically insert breathing and feeding tubes into Jahi McMath that would allow the new facility to keep her body functioning, the lawyer, Christopher Dolan, told The Associated Press.
David Durand, the hospital’s chief of pediatrics, said the hospital would not cooperate with Jahi’s transfer to another facility. The judge did not authorize or order any transfer or surgery, Durand said in a statement released Thursday evening.
“Children’s Hospital Oakland does not believe that performing surgical procedures on the body of a deceased person is an appropriate medical practice,” he said.
Last week McMath’s family appeared in court to present the name of the independent physician it hired to provide a second opinion on the girl’s condition.
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Evelio Grillo granted the hospital permission to remove Jahi’s ventilator, but not until Monday (5 p.m.) so the mother has time to appeal.
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Is the hospital overstepping boundaries and making a decision that should be left up to Jahi’s family?
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