A Texas woman has been removed from life support against her family’s wishes. Stroke victim Carolyn Jones had her ventilator withdrawn May 13 despite repeated pleas from her distraught family members.
In a case that resembles that of British child Alfie Evans, Jones was forced to struggle on without ventilation when medics stripped her of life-saving treatment. While she is still alive at this time, doctors have told the family that if she continues to survive, they will switch off her dialysis machine.
“On Friday, May 3rd the family was notified by the hospital that the Ethics Committee had made the decision to take Carolyn Jones off of the ventilation by the power granted to them by the Texas’ Advance Directives Act (Futile Care Law),” Mark Dickson of Right to Life of East Texas explained to Faithwire.
Despite the family begging, “Please don’t do this,” hospital staff continued to flick the switches.
Dickson is currently with the family as they campaign for the life of this beloved mother and wife.
Courtesy of Mark Dickson
“The Texas 10 Day Rule went into effect and on Monday, May 13th at 2:00 pm Carolyn Jones was taken off of her ventilator,” Dickson explained.
“To the surprise of many, she did not die. As of 7:00 AM she is currently still alive and breathing on her own. At this point, the family has been told by the hospital that no other life-sustaining measures will be provided.”
In a video shared with Faithwire by Dickson, Carolyn’s daughter, Kina Jones, can be heard asking her mother to “give me another yawn.” A few seconds later, Carolyn does exactly that.
Arguably, this shows that the sick woman is able to understand and respond to instructions.
Kina told Click2Houston that her mother was now in the same situation as “prisoners on death row waiting to get executed.”
“It’s not right, not for someone that is loving and is caring and has done nothing but serve 61 years of help, to just discard her like an animal,” she added.
What is the 10-Day Rule?
The Texas Advance Directives Act (199), known colloquially as the “Texas Futile Care Law” or “10-Day Rule” is a directive which allows health care facilities to discontinue life-sustaining treatment ten days after giving written notice to the family.
Treatment can only be withdrawn only if medical teams can prove that it has become completely futile. If the patient is unable to arrange a transfer to a different hospital for treatment in the allotted 10 days, then medical care is withdrawn.
Texas State Senate member, Republican Bryan Hughes, is currently trying to repeal the directive.
What’s next for the family?
Carolyn’s family are firmly out of options at this point, with no time left to arrange a hospital transfer. But one thing is for sure — they aren’t giving up easily.
“Right now the family’s only option is to keep on fighting for the life of Carolyn Jones,” Dickson told Faithwire. “Her life, like everyone else’s life is worth fighting for and none of us plan on giving up anytime soon.”
We will keep you updated as this story progresses. Continue to pray for God to work a miracle!