13 Year Old Wins Right To Die
frankls LONDON, England (AP) - A 13-year-old British girl who has been the subject of nearly a dozen surgeries in her young life has denied a heart transplant - a decision that could ultimately lead to her death.
Hannah Jones, who was diagnosed with leukemia and subsequently a heart condition, told her parents and medical authorities that she prefers to spend her remaining time at home than in hospital. Health authorities have bowed to the decision after interviewing the girl.
Hannah was diagnosed with leukemia when she was 4 years. Chemotherapy put her in remission, but then doctors discovered she had cardiomyopathy, a serious illness when the heart muscle becomes swollen.
The girl’s history arose when parents complained that officials at the hospital sent a social worker to interview the girl about her choice.
The family received a phone call saying that the hospital would take legal action if they didn’t bring Hannah to the hospital, said his mother, Kirsty Jones.
Hospital officials said it is standard procedure to ensure that both children and their parents understand the consequences of any medical decision.
Dr. John Jenkins, a pediatrician and chairman of Britain ’s General Medical Council and the rules of an ethics committee, said that the child has had a lengthy illness
Heart transplants are risky operations for any patient - and the risks increase with young people who have additional conditions such as Hannah ’s leukemia.
Transplant patients often require a lifetime of anti-rejection medication to prevent their body from attacking their new heart. The drugs often have side effects that make the body more susceptible to dangerous infections.
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