When The Court Plays God!

An article in The New York Times reports that the highest court in the State Of Boston ruled Tuesday that the state can withdraw life support from Haleigh Poutre, an 11-year-old girl who has been in a coma since September, and whose adoptive mother and stepfather are accused of abusing her.

Haleigh, of Westfield, Mass., was hospitalized on Sept. 11 with a brain injury and multiple bruises, burns and cuts. Her aunt Holli Strickland, who adopted her, and Ms. Strickland's husband, Jason Strickland, were charged with assault, but Ms. Strickland died in an apparent murder-suicide after charges were filed.

The state Department of Social Services, which was granted custody of Haleigh, successfully petitioned a juvenile court for permission to remove life support. Mr. Strickland challenged the state in court, asking to be considered Haleigh's de facto parent and to be allowed to argue for keeping her alive.

With the Court's decision to remove her feeding tube, doctors advise that she will die within a few hours of the tubes removal. The Court's decision fuels the existing debate on ethical and moral grounds whether it is appropriate for a Court to decide in a medical end-of-life decision. Many feel that rather than keeping her in a vegetative state, she should be allowed to go with dignity.

But who should make this decision??