Family Files Lawsuit to Keep Doctors From Stopping Dialysis

The plight of Terri Schiavo captured the nation`s attention and sparked fierce debate. Now a similar case is back in the news and this time it involves a Bowie county woman. This week attorney Allen Reaves filed a lawsuit trying to keep 61 year old Ruthie Webster of texarkana alive. She`s currently being treated at Regency Hospital of North Dallas. A few months ago during dialysis treatment there was a lack of oxygen to Webster`s brain and she suffered damage. She`s now in a vegetative state and requires a feeding tube and dialysis to stay alive. Earlier this month, doctors at Regency Hospital decided it would be best to end treatment. We tried speaking to officials, but they declined comment on the case citing privacy concerns. In a letter mailed to Webster`s daughter August 8th Dr. Michael Blackmon says "it is the opinion of the bioethics committee that continued hemodialysis is inappropriate and should be discontinued for reasons of futility." In 1999, a bill passed allowing doctors to stop life sustaining treatment even if they family wants to continue. Section 166.046 of the Health and Safety Code requires families be given ten days to find another hospital before treatment can be terminated. Reaves says that`s not enough time. "When she came here Ms. Webster was on a respirator. She has since been taken off of it and is breathing on her own. She has done quite a bit of recovering and is getting better if they would just let her heal," Reaves said. The case is headed to court. A hearing is set for August 28th in Bowie county where a judge will decide what happens next.