Woman who won right to die in June has birthday
Published: 15 Oct. 2009, 07:12
The comatose woman who had her artificial respirator removed in June after a court ruled that she would have opted for “death with dignity,” celebrated her 77th birthday yesterday.
Her children gathered on the 15th floor of Yonsei University’s Severance Hospital in northwestern Seoul to offer prayers for the woman whose long survival has surprised doctors. The children had planned to hold a party, but after the woman’s condition worsened, they decided to cancel.
On Monday, she stopped breathing for two minutes, leading to a serious condition, but quickly recovered, according to the hospital.
A court granted the female patient surnamed Kim the right to have her artificial respirator removed as requested by members of her family. The woman had lapsed into a coma in February of last year after experiencing excessive bleeding in her brain following a biopsy for lung cancer. She had been using an artificial respirator ever since, with the hospital covering the medical costs.
Her children demanded that the hospital unplug the respirator, but the hospital refused. A court battle ensued.
The Supreme Court ruled in May that all life support be terminated. Based on the way she acted and talked before she fell ill, the court said the patient would have wanted such action.
By Seo Ji-eun [[email protected]]
Her children gathered on the 15th floor of Yonsei University’s Severance Hospital in northwestern Seoul to offer prayers for the woman whose long survival has surprised doctors. The children had planned to hold a party, but after the woman’s condition worsened, they decided to cancel.
On Monday, she stopped breathing for two minutes, leading to a serious condition, but quickly recovered, according to the hospital.
A court granted the female patient surnamed Kim the right to have her artificial respirator removed as requested by members of her family. The woman had lapsed into a coma in February of last year after experiencing excessive bleeding in her brain following a biopsy for lung cancer. She had been using an artificial respirator ever since, with the hospital covering the medical costs.
Her children demanded that the hospital unplug the respirator, but the hospital refused. A court battle ensued.
The Supreme Court ruled in May that all life support be terminated. Based on the way she acted and talked before she fell ill, the court said the patient would have wanted such action.
By Seo Ji-eun [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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