What would you do part 2

[BluesMan]

A 17-year-old male with Cystic Fibrosis presents to the Emergency Department in Respiratory Failure. His condition is critical and he needs to be intubated and placed on mechanical support. (A tube inserted through his mouth or nose into his windpipe and placed on life support machine). He states that he wants everything done, and for you to place him on life support.
His mother then arrives and states that she does not want this medical care and that she is ready to let nature take its course.

[TheBigDog]

If that is the whole situation the I help him, absolutely.

Bill

[Celeste]

Of course, I would follow the young mans directive and fight for his rights until it was deemed otherwise. Unfortunately, with the young man being a minor, stating his wishes to be resuscitated may not be enough.

[Tormod]

In this case I would not honor any of them but seek outside input.

[Zythryn]

Ditto. I would seek additional input from a judge, or social worker if one is involved with the family.
Without additional information, I would guess that the court would rule that allowing the child to die is not in the child's best interest.

[Janus]

Originally Posted by Zythryn

Ditto. I would seek additional input from a judge, or social worker if one is involved with the family.
Without additional information, I would guess that the court would rule that allowing the child to die is not in the child's best interest.

Of course that means you will have to keep him on life support until you get a judgement.

[Jay-qu]

so lawfully (though probably different from place to place) if the mother says so you have to let him go? Thats terrible.. I would keep him going hands down, plead that the mother was not in the right frame of mind to make such a decision..

[Zythryn]

Originally Posted by Janus

Of course that means you will have to keep him on life support until you get a judgement.

Absolutely!
I am guessing here, but I would think the doctor involved could argue the mothers parental rights by claiming she is unfit. However, I suppose a judge, after reviewing the case could support the mother.

The child could also request the court allow him to 'divorce' his parents as some other children in the USA have done.

Now, if the child were unconscious and was not expected to regain consiousness then I would guess the mother would get her way. Unless, someone brought the issue before a judge on the childs behalf.

[Jay-qu]

and how do you divorce your parents so they dont take you off life support when you are unconsious?? not looking good for the poor kid

[Zythryn]

Originally Posted by Jay-qu

and how do you divorce your parents so they dont take you off life support when you are unconsious?? not looking good for the poor kid

Well, the situation given is that the child is conscious.
However, if they are not, we would need another person to challenge the mother's right to make that decision?

I really don't have specifics, this is all a guess as to how it works. If someone has experience with this type of law perhaps they could shed some light on how this works?