UGRH! This case has several issues- right to die, parental rights and HE IS FREE ON BAIL?!?! Where is Dave or CP's Uncle? This could end a little quicker that way!
In regards to life support, I am for pulling the plug if the doctors agree there is no hope for her to recover. This will be interesting though who can make the decision. Who will be her legal guardian? If it becomes the state, I bet they do not have the authority to say yes or no. Who is paying for this would be an interesting question too! This case is sad at so many angles!
BOSTON - The stepfather of an 11-year-old girl went to Massachusetts' highest court on Tuesday hoping to block the state from taking her off life support.
If the girl dies, he could face a murder charge for taking part in the beating that left her comatose.
Haleigh Poutre was hospitalized in September after her stepfather and adoptive mother kicked her and beat her nearly to death with a baseball bat.
Within two weeks of being charged with assault and battery, the adoptive mother, Holli Strickland, who was also Haleigh's aunt, was found dead alongside her grandmother in a possible murder-suicide.
Her stepfather, Jason Strickland, is free on bail while awaiting trial on assault charges.
The state Department of Social Services has custody of the girl and wants to remove her from life support, citing opinions from her doctors that the girl is in a permanent vegetative state.
A juvenile court judge has granted the state's request to disconnect Haleigh's feeding tube and ventilator.
Jason Strickland appealed, and the Supreme Judicial Court scheduled arguments for Tuesday morning.
Both of Haleigh's doctors agree that she should be removed from the ventilator, but they are split over whether her feeding tube should be disconnected.
They have said that with her feeding tube alone, Haleigh could live as long as two months.
Without any life support assistance, she would die much sooner, the doctors said.
Haleigh was adopted by her aunt about five years ago after her biological mother moved to Virginia with a new boyfriend.
Jason Strickland never formally adopted the girl, but is arguing that as the stepfather, he should be considered a de facto parent and allowed to have a say in whether she lives or dies.
His lawyer, John Egan, has insisted his client isn't motivated by the chance he could be charged with murder if the girl dies.
"We should be coming down on the side of life as opposed to death," he said
WOW. Well, given that this guy possibly caused her condition, I don't think he should have any say in what happens to her now. As a step parent myself, I know how painful it is to stand by and watch things happen to your kids that you can't legally prevent, but then again I happen to love my stepkids more than life itself. It's kind of obvious that he has some real self interest going here. If he's guilty, then in my opinion he should be beaten to death with a baseball bat himself... too bad that isn't legal.
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MM
That which does not kill me postpones the inevitable.
I wanted to be a family court lawyer. Then I tried to have my son's name changed to mine. It was a nightmare. That stopped me from that option as a career!
Yeah, when my mom remarried, my name was different from hers. It's amazing how many people don't "get" it. Personally, I could never be a lawyer, it would drive me nuts.
I can see where this case could have HUGE ramifications . At what point does someone become a " legal parent ". Your latest shack job has a child , are you legally responsible for food , clothing , shelter , school etc. ? and when does it start ?
I believe he has a 60- 40 chance , If a man can have a "common law wife " ...
side note - on the bail , so far he's charged with A/B , a bailable offense , if / when that little girl passes on the charge will be upgraded to either manslaughter or most likely 2nd degree murder , and guess what ? BOTH bailable offenses.
Ah for the days of Hammurabi's law - eye for an eye. How a person can take out their frustrated miserable life on a child boggles my mind, and, IMHO lacks the empathy to be human...
This case has several issues- right to die, parental rights and HE IS FREE ON BAIL?!?! Where is Dave or CP's Uncle? This could end a little quicker that way!
