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When the pain of life becomes too unbearable

By John Hirst

When the pain of life becomes too unbearable

Teenager wins right to die after hospital tried to force her to have heart transplant

A terminally-ill teenager has won the right to die after she was taken to court by her local hospital in an attempt to force her to have a heart transplant against her wishes.

"Hannah Jones, 13, wanted to die with dignity but child protection officers were drafted in and threatened to remove her from her parents custody to make her have surgery.

The teenager had been warned that the transplant could itself result in death while it would also weaken her immune system, meaning she could see the leukaemia she previously suffered return.

She remained adamant she did not want any further treatment even when the hospital started High Court proceedings".

This case highlights what I already know, that sometimes these so-called child protection officers can be part of the problem rather than the cure. I am also reminded of some sound advice that not everything can be settled by resort to the law. Negotiation is sometimes a better avenue to go down.

Full post as published by prisonlawinsideout on November 11, 2008 (boomark / email).