MGH to pull plug on patient: Daughter fights hospital to keep her mother alive

Boston Herald ^ | Thursday, February 17, 2005 | David Weber

[Radix]

Massachusetts General Hospital said it will remove a 79-year-old woman from life support next week - against the wishes of her daughter - despite a court ruling last March saying the daughter had the right to decide when to pull the plug.
Barbara Howe, 79, formerly of Dorchester, has advanced-stage Lou Gehrig's disease and has been in a hospital bed on a breathing ventilator since 1997. She cannot speak and can barely move her mouth and one remaining eye, but her daughter said she still is mentally alert.
``Her face lights up when you talk to her. I visit her four times a week, and my sister visits here every single day,'' Carol Carvitt said. ``You can see the eye move back and forth, and her mouth starts moving.''
Last year, the MGH doctors wanted to remove Howe from her breathing machine because they said she was suffering and would not want to be kept alive. But Probate and Family Court Judge John Smoot said Carvitt should be allowed to determine the course of Howe's care.
``I evaluate every day what is in her best interest,'' Carvitt said, referring to the incurable and degenerative muscle disease also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
MGH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Britain Nicholson said yesterday he ordered that Howe be removed from life support next Wednesday because her condition has worsened.
``Our hospital's position is Mrs. Howe's condition has continued to deteriorate to the point that it needed to be readdressed.'' He said it was ``in Mrs. Howe's best interest to discontinue life support.''
Nicholson informed Carvitt of the hospital's stance with a phone call and letter earlier this month.
``I'm devastated and I'm angry,'' Carvitt said. ``Devastated because they're trying to terminate my mother's life. And angry because they're violating a court order.''
Smoot declined to issue a temporary restraining order against the hospital last week. But Carvitt's attorney, Gary Zalkin, said the judge left open the door for them to renew their motion for the restraining order after receiving additional information from the hospital.

[Hildy]

I guess not.

[pageonetoo]

It is rarely the people who are asking, that are doing the paying...

The good thing about modern medicine is that it keeps people alive longer. The bad thing is that some people shouldn't be alive... but we always did like to play God!

Basic ICU charges are as little as $1500 a day, and can go past $5k PER DAY. Add to that, the meds and equipment supplied, and your bill for this lady has possibly exceeded $3 or $4. That is $3 or 4 for each taxpayer in the US!

God allows us to make these decisions... He already did, but the docs are hanging on!

[Hildy]

I agree with you, but the majority here on FR don't.

[pageonetoo]

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation." -Is12:2
What better promise can there be?

[Hildy]

Hey, you're preaching to the choir, so to speak.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I have had two friends die of this disease...both of them chose to go the hospice route when it came near the end...and I think, given the choice between endings and this poor woman, I would choose the way they did...

Because we have the ability to extend life so far past the natural lifespan of people with certain illnesses, we need to realize what we should want happen to us in advance, and put it in writing!

If I have late stage terminal cancer and I have a heart attack, I don't think I want to be rescussitated...but on the other hand, if I am in a condition like Terri Schiavo, I don't want someone starving me to death, thinking he's being merciful...

I am sure we each have our own particular squeamishnesses...put them in writing!

[virgil]

I agree with you, but if a hospital is going to defy a court order, I doubt they will care about a little paper that you signed. That's what this is leading to. Its not going to matter about the living will. They'll just croak you to save money regardless.

[Trinity_Tx]

"Apparently most of the family is in disagreement with daughter, but in accord with hospital."

See, that's the problem with guardianship. I don't blame the hospital for pushing it.

This could go on forever if all that is required is that she alone claims to be seeing "something."

Family members are seldom objective. They can convince themselves that what they see is whatever they want it to be, and I expect that she is just struggling with letting go.

This is a different thing from Terri Schiavo.

I mean, 7 years on life support? And with ALS, there's no hope. I'd consider that hell on earth, especially if I were at all conscious "in there". It would be like being buried alive.

[Radix]

The woman's daughter (victim?) was on the radio this morning with her aunt as they disagreed. The matter was discussed at length.

They are not stupid, neither of them. That was very clear.