On Tuesday, November 11, in the U.K., thirteen year old Hannah Jones persuaded her hospital to abandon the legal proceedings that could have potentially forced her to have a heart transplant against her will.
Hannah was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of five and was given a high-strength drug to kill off the infection that also caused a hole to develop in her heart. She was left with severe heart damage that requires treatment with a combination of drugs and a special pacemaker. After being told the only solution was a transplant, Hannah decided against it because there was a strong chance she would not survive the procedure and, if she did, the leukaemia could return. The new heart would also last only 10 years at best and she would need constant drug treatment. In the end she decided to return home to Marden near Hereford under the expert care of her mother, a specialist nurse.
But in the complex right-to-die case, her local hospital began High Court proceedings to temporarily remove her from her parents' custody to allow the transplant to go ahead. Hannah was required to plead her case to a child protection officer. Hannah told doctors and the officer that she believed the treatment was too risky and that she would prefer to enjoy her remaining days in the company of family and friends. Hannah's plea was ultimately compelling enough to convince the child protection officer to take her side, and persuade the hospital to back down.
Hannah's story poses another layer to the right to die question that makes it even more complex. The primary factor that makes this decision is difficult is the fact that Hannah is not an older adult individual who has suffered from a painful terminal disease their entire life. Rather, Hannah is a young girl, with potentially her entire life ahead of her. Her choice in this matter is one of quality of life, and I do agree that she (and her family) should have the right to make that final decision. However, I can also see the hospital's conflict in that they want to do everything they can to save the life of this girl. The family may not have the entire medical know-how of the experts at the hospital to fully evaluate the risks possibilities they are facing. Additionally, the hospital may be able to evaluate the situation from a purely medical standpoint of whether the procedure is too risky or not, while the family may be too emotionally drained from all the years of distress they've faced throughout the course of Hannah's medical treatment. Ultimately, I feel that the resolution taken is the correct one, to follow the wishes of the patient and her family. However, I definitely understand how difficult it must be for hospital staff to stand back and do nothing while this young girl with her entire life ahead of her chooses to die, especially when there are existing viable medical alternatives out there that may possibly save her life.
Story at: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/girl-13-wins-right-to-refuse-heart-transplant-1009569.html
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