Post date: Jan 14, 2014 2:49:25 AM
Protesters support Texas man who is asking to have pregnant wife removed from life support
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 12, 2014) (NBC) - Protesters outside a Fort Worth, Texas hospital are asking that a pregnant woman be taken off of life support.
Marlise Munoz has been on life support since her husband, Erick Munoz, found her unconscious on November 26th, after suffering from what her husband believes was a pulmonary embolism. She has been on a ventilator since then.Her husband and Marlise's parents argue that the now 20-week pregnant woman would not want to be kept alive this way.
The protesters outside John Peter Smith hospital said on Sunday (January 12) that they did not know the Munoz family but wanted to show their support.
Demonstrators said the decision shouldn't be up to the hospital.
Erick Munoz says he wants his wife to be removed from life support, saying that he and his wife are both paramedics in the Fort Worth area and discussed what they wanted to do in such a situation.
He also said he is worried the fetus may have been injured by a blood clot that cut off the flow of oxygen and nutrients in Marlise's body.
Hospital officials said they were just following the law.
Under Texas state law, a person may not withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment from a pregnant patient, even if there is a "do not resuscitate" request from the patient or the family of the patient seeks to end life support.
In July, Texas Governor Rick Perry signed into law tough new restrictions on abortion, including a ban after 20 weeks of pregnancy, marking one of the biggest victories in a decade for opponents of the procedure in the United States.