FORT WORTH, Texas, January 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice Sandee Marion ruled against a Texas family trying to save their baby girl’s life Thursday, by rejecting their bid for another injunction against Cook Children’s Medical Center (CCMC) withdrawing life support from Tinslee Lewis.
The decision gives her family seven days to file an appeal, which Texas Right to Life says they will pursue.
Tinslee Lewis was born prematurely and has spent her entire life so far at the Fort Worth-based children’s hospital, where she has undergone various intensive surgeries for a heart defect, lung disease, and severe chronic pulmonary hypertension. Doctors concluded in October that the 10-month-old was beyond saving, and declared their intentions to take her off life support.
Tinslee’s parents obtained and renewed a restraining order against the move with the help of Texas Right to Life, but Marion has rejected their bid to extend it, NBC-DFW reports.
“Our doctors and nurses have done everything humanly possible to save Tinslee’s life,” CCMC claimed in a statement. “Sadly, she shows no signs of improvement and there are no treatment options available to help her get better.”
“I am heartbroken over today’s decision because the judge basically said Tinslee’s life is NOT worth living,” Tinslee’s mother Trinity Lewis responded to the ruling. “I feel frustrated because anyone in that courtroom would want more time just like I do if Tinslee were their baby. I hope that we can keep fighting through an appeal to protect Tinslee. She deserves the right to live. Please keep praying for Tinslee and thank you for supporting us during this difficult time.”
Tinslee’s case has caught the attention of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who filed a brief to help save her life. Texas Right to Life has also been calling on Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to convene a special legislative session to repeal a provision of the 1999 Texas Advance Directives Act (TADA). The provision states that if a doctor gives notification of his refusal to further treat a patient, gets approval from a committee, and no other doctor agrees to take in or help the patient, then the hospital is only obligated to provide up to 10 days of care before life-sustaining treatment (which includes giving dialysis to conscious people) is removed.
“Texas Right to Life is disappointed that the ruling not only disregarded the Constitution, but also sentenced an innocent 11-month-old baby to death like a criminal,” the group said. “The 10-Day Rule has robbed countless patients of their Right to Life and right to due process. We pray the appellate court will identify how the law violates Baby Tinslee’s due process rights, revoke her death sentence, and strike down the deadly 10-Day Rule.”
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