"Reverse Terri Schiavo" Coma Victim Begins Eating, Drumming In Response to Stimuli

In case you don't remember, a man had beaten his girlfriend's daughter into a coma. The state wanted to pull the plug on her; the man, hoping to avoid an actual murder rap (such charges would be filed if she died) wanted to keep her alive and on life support.

She's making progress:

A nurse told the mother of Haleigh Poutre during a hospital visit on Tuesday that the severely beaten Westfield girl, whom officials once wanted to let die, has been able to eat scrambled eggs and cream of wheat, and has tapped out drum rhythms during physical therapy, according to the mother's lawyer.

But it is unclear when Poutre began eating solid food, and how often she does so. A Department of Social Services worker, who was monitoring the 15-minute visit, has told the nurse to stop talking to the mother about the girl's condition, said Wendy Murphy, a Boston lawyer who represents Allison Avrett, who is Poutre's biological mother.

''Silence and secrecy has been the most frustrating component of this case," Murphy said yesterday. ''It just seems inhumane that information about this child can be forbidden on the theory that it's somehow protecting her privacy, when you consider that this child almost died under the state's care."

I concede (although many don't) that there are some situations in which letting a severely brain-damaged and comatose patient die may be the humane and medically proper course of action.

I cannot comprehend, though, why the state views death as the default prescription.

Liberals are generally in favor of spending government money on health care. Why are they so gung-ho to save a few bucks by killing people who are actually alive and may have a chance at a decent recovery?

posted by Ace at 12:40 PM

| Access Comments