Hospital Seeks to Pull Plug on Brain-Dead Boy, 12

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http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,447753,00.html



WASHINGTON — The Children's National Medical Center is seeking a court order that would allow the hospital to disconnect a 12-year-old boy from a ventilator and end the medications that keep his heart beating.

The hospital says the boy is brain dead. However, the boy's parents are Orthodox Jews, and their attorney says the concept of brain death is not recognized by Jewish law. Attorney Jeffrey Zuckerman says the family's beliefs should be respected.

The boy, Motl Brody of Brooklyn, N.Y., was diagnosed with severe brain cancer and has been at the hospital for six months. Doctors pronounced him dead Tuesday after tests found no brain activity.

In documents filed at D.C. Superior Court, the hospital says its "scarce resources are being used for the preservation of a deceased body."

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I'm so torn on these kinds of things. On the one hand, I'd like to think some miracle would happen, but on the other, chances are this boy's life as we know it is over.

It's a question I've wrestled with on this issue - is having a living body with no conscious thought a life at all?

I know, I have debated this as well... but they just declared him brain dead Tuesday, and now already talking about a court order? Give the family time to grieve!

[Not Perfect, But Forgiven]

If the boy has no brain function, then he is dead and therefore absent from the body. We know from Paul that if we are absent from the body we are present with the Lord. Most likely, the boy is in Heaven right now. His body is a lifeless shell that must not be clung to. That is not where his life is right now.

[Tres Wright]

If the boy has no brain function, then he is dead and therefore absent from the body. We know from Paul that if we are absent from the body we are present with the Lord. Most likely, the boy is in Heaven right now. His body is a lifeless shell that must not be clung to. That is not where his life is right now.

Very well said!

Let's pray for the boy's soul and pray that his parents can let go of the body he used to inhabit. :pray

[tml1432]

Easy to say when it is not your child. It would be even more difficult if the parents are not believers.

[Rebecca S]

It's only artificial life keeping that body going, the child's soul is long gone. It would be wisest to let him go and donate his organs so that others have a chance to live. It's sad that the parent's aren't allowing themselves the closure they need by keeping the body present. Very sad. :(

[His Bride]

But this boy's parents are Jewish. They are not Christians. How then, does a medical team, or government for that matter, determine what is to be done? I'm with all of you. This is a tough call, and who calls it? Should the government be allowed to intervene? It seems to me that to keep him alive does no harm, does it? If the government is to take control in this case what is to stop them in the future?

[ZeldaCA]

If their little boy is truly only being kept alive through the use of machines, then he should should be allowed to die. If he can survive without the breathing and heart machines, then he should be cared for as he is still alive. Hopefully the parents will come to terms with it soon, but I can certainly see why they don't want to let go. It would be the toughest realization for anyone to know they son is "gone" in every meaningful sense of the word.

[Gina_63]

It's only artificial life keeping that body going, the child's soul is long gone. It would be wisest to let him go and donate his organs so that others have a chance to live. It's sad that the parent's aren't allowing themselves the closure they need by keeping the body present. Very sad. :(

Orthodox Jews do not donate organs. They believe in having every part of the body buried together.

Gina

[sopo]

If the boy has no brain function, then he is dead and therefore absent from the body. We know from Paul that if we are absent from the body we are present with the Lord. Most likely, the boy is in Heaven right now. His body is a lifeless shell that must not be clung to. That is not where his life is right now.

Thank you so much for this wisdom. I had to make this choice on my husband. It was heart wrenching...but I believe the right choice. I knew he would go to Heaven but it was so hard to let him go. Hearing it stated this way makes it so much easier.