Tirhas Habtegiris
Encyclopedia
Tirhas Habtegiris a legal female immigrant into the United States
from Eritrea
, was removed from a respirator
under Texas
law against the wishes of her family, Habtegiris had cancer
that had spread to her lungs and she was diagnosed as terminally ill.
There is debate over whether Habtegiris was conscious and responsive when the respirator was removed. Her family claims that she was conscious and responsive and suffocated over the course of 16 minutes. The hospital claims that she had been unconscious and unresponsive since shortly after her admission, due to the large doses of intravenous narcotics necessary to manage her pain.
Under the Texas Advance Directives Act
(or Futile Care Law), a terminally ill patient can be removed, at the hospital's discretion, from life-sustaining treatment that "the attending physician has decided and the review process has affirmed is inappropriate treatment." (See §166.046 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.) In particular, it does not allow or even address withdrawing treatment simply because of inability to pay, contrary to erroneous media reports (some of which are referenced below). The hospital claimed that financial considerations had nothing to do with the decision.
A statement from the hospital indicates they offered to hire an immigration attorney
to bring the woman's mother to her bedside so that she could die in her mother's arms, but the family said that the process in their home country would take too long.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
, was removed from a respirator
Respirator
A respirator is a device designed to protect the wearer from inhaling harmful dusts, fumes, vapors, or gases. Respirators come in a wide range of types and sizes used by the military, private industry, and the public...
under Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
law against the wishes of her family, Habtegiris had cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
that had spread to her lungs and she was diagnosed as terminally ill.
There is debate over whether Habtegiris was conscious and responsive when the respirator was removed. Her family claims that she was conscious and responsive and suffocated over the course of 16 minutes. The hospital claims that she had been unconscious and unresponsive since shortly after her admission, due to the large doses of intravenous narcotics necessary to manage her pain.
Under the Texas Advance Directives Act
Advance Directives Act
The Texas Advance Directives Act , also known as the Texas Futile Care Law, describes certain provisions that are now Chapter 166 of the Texas Health & Safety Code...
(or Futile Care Law), a terminally ill patient can be removed, at the hospital's discretion, from life-sustaining treatment that "the attending physician has decided and the review process has affirmed is inappropriate treatment." (See §166.046 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.) In particular, it does not allow or even address withdrawing treatment simply because of inability to pay, contrary to erroneous media reports (some of which are referenced below). The hospital claimed that financial considerations had nothing to do with the decision.
A statement from the hospital indicates they offered to hire an immigration attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
to bring the woman's mother to her bedside so that she could die in her mother's arms, but the family said that the process in their home country would take too long.