A petition supporting the removal of life support attached to a brain-dead pregnant woman was launched in Texas on Wednesday.
Texas is one of the 12 states in the United States that practice uncompromising laws that require women who are pregnant to be kept alive no matter what the state of her pregnancy is.
Marlise Munoz, 33, was found unconscious at her home on November 26 and was rushed to the hospital that declared her brain dead. Her husband, Erick, has been requesting to have her off the life support since then. He claimed that his wife said that she wouldn't want to be attached to a machine in case tragedy happens. However, the John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth rejected the request citing a state law which prohibits them to do so.
The family suspected that Marlise suffered from pulmonary embolism, a condition in which an obstruction occurred on the artery in the lungs. These obstructions can either be an air, blood clot, fat, or tumor cells.
"JPS has a responsibility to be a good corporate citizen while providing compassionate, quality care for our patients," said JPS spokesperson Jill Labbe to AFP.
"In all cases, JPS will follow the law as it applies to health care in the state of Texas. State law says life-sustaining treatment cannot be withheld or withdrawn from a pregnant patient."
Meanwhile, New Straits Times reported that abortion rights activists started a petition on Wednesday to remove Munoz on life support.
NARAL Pro-Choice America stated in the petition, "The Munoz family deserves better than this - and it's up to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to show them that the state of Texas respects their wishes and their privacy."
The petition also insists Abbott to "leave difficult, personal decisions in the hands of families and support the Munoz family's decision to take Marlise off of life support, as she wanted."
