Monday, March 21, 2005
White Women? Yes! Black Babies? No.
As this is written, President Bush has just signed a bill passed by an extraordinary late night session of Congress that will move Terri Schiavo's case to the federal courts. Before I proceed, keep two facts in your mind. One, this case has already been heard by the entire Florida judicial system, including some 19 different judges. Second, the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear the case.
That said, the following words are not mine, but rather those of another liberal blogger. I agree with them wholeheartedly.
"I did not see the Republicans in Congress, or the President, or his brother passing legislation to save this BLACK MEDICAID BABY IN TEXAS from having life support removed. Could it be that intervention would happen only if you are a doctor or a hospital that could be sued for wrongful death? So that's when you revive a person...after they are hopeless; a permanent vegetable; to save your self from wrongful death suits? Or is it that your parents are major Republican contributors that entitles special intervention? Could it be that this was a minority Medicaid child, so no harm, no foul? When exactly are non-Republicans entitled to the Republicans Right to Life?"
One of the biggest noise makers in Congress about Terri Schiavo is House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. DeLay's district includes part of Houston.
Now, here's a story from the AP about that baby...
Houston baby removed from life support
04:53 PM CST on Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Associated Press
HOUSTON--A critically ill 5-month-old was taken off life support and died Tuesday, a day after a judge lifted an injunction preventing doctors from halting care they believed to be futile. His mother had fought to keep him alive.
Sun Hudson had been diagnosed with a fatal genetic disorder called thanatophoric dysplasia, a condition characterized by a tiny chest and lungs too small to support life. He had been on a ventilator since birth.
Wanda Hudson unsuccessfully fought to continue her son's medical care. She believed he needed time to grow and could eventually be weaned off the ventilator.
The mother could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
Texas law allows hospitals to end life support in cases such as this but requires that families be given 10 days to find another facility to care for the patient. No hospital was found to take the baby.
The ethics committee at Texas Children's Hospital reviewed Sun's case before recommending that life support be stopped. Hospital officials also recommended the case be taken to court and offered to pay Hudson's attorney fees.
* * * * *
I do take some relief in this fact: the U.S. Constitution forbids the passing of a law that affects only one person. If the federal judge that will hear this case fails to recognize the right to privacy (granted to us by the Supreme Court decision in Row v. Wade), perhaps he'll at least remember that part of the Constitution.
That said, the following words are not mine, but rather those of another liberal blogger. I agree with them wholeheartedly.
"I did not see the Republicans in Congress, or the President, or his brother passing legislation to save this BLACK MEDICAID BABY IN TEXAS from having life support removed. Could it be that intervention would happen only if you are a doctor or a hospital that could be sued for wrongful death? So that's when you revive a person...after they are hopeless; a permanent vegetable; to save your self from wrongful death suits? Or is it that your parents are major Republican contributors that entitles special intervention? Could it be that this was a minority Medicaid child, so no harm, no foul? When exactly are non-Republicans entitled to the Republicans Right to Life?"
One of the biggest noise makers in Congress about Terri Schiavo is House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. DeLay's district includes part of Houston.
Now, here's a story from the AP about that baby...
Houston baby removed from life support
04:53 PM CST on Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Associated Press
HOUSTON--A critically ill 5-month-old was taken off life support and died Tuesday, a day after a judge lifted an injunction preventing doctors from halting care they believed to be futile. His mother had fought to keep him alive.
Sun Hudson had been diagnosed with a fatal genetic disorder called thanatophoric dysplasia, a condition characterized by a tiny chest and lungs too small to support life. He had been on a ventilator since birth.
Wanda Hudson unsuccessfully fought to continue her son's medical care. She believed he needed time to grow and could eventually be weaned off the ventilator.
The mother could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
Texas law allows hospitals to end life support in cases such as this but requires that families be given 10 days to find another facility to care for the patient. No hospital was found to take the baby.
The ethics committee at Texas Children's Hospital reviewed Sun's case before recommending that life support be stopped. Hospital officials also recommended the case be taken to court and offered to pay Hudson's attorney fees.
* * * * *
I do take some relief in this fact: the U.S. Constitution forbids the passing of a law that affects only one person. If the federal judge that will hear this case fails to recognize the right to privacy (granted to us by the Supreme Court decision in Row v. Wade), perhaps he'll at least remember that part of the Constitution.
