Saturday, April 16, 2005

First, I stated President Bush was hypocritical because of his recent statement surrounding the death of Terri Schiavo, not because he signed the Texas Futile Care Law.

Children are at the utmost mercy of others and their rights should be protected. If Congress will step in for Terri Schiavo, they should step in for everyone, especially those who are as young and innocent as Sun Hudson.

Second, the Texas Futile Care Law codified at Texas Health & Safety Code Ann. 166.046 (Vernon 2004) states: (e) If the patient or the person responsible for the health care decisions of the patient is requesting life-sustaining treatment that the attending physician has decided and the review process has affirmed is inappropriate treatment, the patient shall be given available life-sustaining treatment pending transfer under Subsection (d). The patient is responsible for any costs incurred in transferring the patient to another facility. The physician and the health care facility are not obligated to provide life-sustaining treatment after the 10th day after the written decision required under Subsection (b) is provided to the patient or the person responsible for the health care decisions of the patient unless ordered to do so under Subsection (g).

As the statute Gov. Bush signed into law states, the hospital is not required to help a patient find a new health care provider. Furthermore, hospitals still withdraw treatment based on money, they just must go through a formal process first, as outlined in the statute.

Mr. Coppinger, individuals may have a difference in opinion without falsely accusing another of not having their facts straight.

Deidre Bowen

Bowling Green

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