Anchorage, Alaska, Sep 12, 2008 / 02:10 am
The Alaska Supreme Court has issued an order forbidding a hospital from removing a woman’s life-support tubes, which would almost certainly end her life.
Providence Hospital claimed that the woman’s medical treatment is not effective and argued sustaining her life violates the hospital’s ethical standards. The woman’s husband filed suit against the hospital on May 16 to prevent hospital staff from removing her life support.
The husband’s attorney, Kenneth Kirk, is allied with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF). He responded to the decision, saying:
“Having severe medical problems shouldn’t be a death sentence. Judging a patient’s worth by subjective ‘quality of life’ standards is dangerous. The decision on whether to remove life support for this woman rests with her and her husband alone.”