A Texas man has filed a lawsuit against a Fort Worth hospital for refusing to take his pregnant wife off life support. Marlise Munoz, 33, paramedic in training, was found unconscious November 26. The cause of death is unknown, although a blood clot is a possibility. The 14 week pregnant Marlise has been on life support for 7 weeks, and her husband Erick Munoz wants the hospital to pull the plug. The status of the fetus is unknown.
“Marlise Munoz is dead, and she gave clear instructions to her husband and family — Marlise was not to remain on any type of artificial ‘life sustaining treatment,’ ventilators or the like,” the lawsuit said. “There is no reason JPS should be allowed to continue treatment on Marlise Munoz’s dead body, and this court should order JPS to immediately discontinue such.”
But John Peter Smith Hospital has refused to take Munoz off life support, citing a state law the hospital says requires it to continue treating a pregnant patient. Hospital spokeswoman J.R. Labbe previously has said hospital officials stand by their position: “This is not a difficult decision for us. We are following the law.”
Erick’s lawyers are requesting an emergency motion for an expedited ruling, taking only weeks instead of months. The family wants Marlise off machines to provide the proper burial.
Photo credit: CNN