GUEST COLUMN

5/23/2006

KU Medical Center Challenged in Brain Dead Diagnosis

By Carrie K. Hutchens

On May 9th, a fourteen year old boy received a gun shot wound to the neck. (Gun may have gone off accidentally.) On May 10th, the University of Kansas Medical Center (KU Medical Center) declared the boy brain dead and wished to remove life support. The mother did not agree with the diagnosis and requested a restraining order until a second opinion could be obtained. The order was granted.

On May 19th, a neurosurgeon (whose name was not released) examined Michael Todd for 90 minutes and concluded that the boy was in fact brain dead. Upon this verification -- all parties concerned contacted the judge, the restraining order was lifted and life support removed.

It is a sad day that Michael J. Todd met death at such a young age. Sad that his family and friends have had to endure such a horrendous ordeal and loss. However... perhaps Michael has not died in vain. Perhaps he (and his family) shall be one of the beacons to lead us back to the rightful path we lost site of some time ago.

According to Channel 9 News (TheKansasCityChannel.com - 5/19/06), "Southall said the boy's family simply wanted to keep doctors from rushing to any decision on his fate."

"Life is so important," she said, "that we shouldn't be so quick to make a diagnosis."

Can any say the boy's family was wrong in their feelings and fight to "simply make sure"?

In this hurry-up world of microwaves that don't microwave our one minute food fast enough, have we grown to be as impatient with the healing/rehabilitation and death processes? Have we lost touch with faith, hope, patience, determination, effort and the miracles we often can't explain? What is the rush to write people off these days? Lack of true compassion? Money? Insurance companies? Other corporations and movements? Exactly what is it?

KU Medical Center staff seems to feel hurt for being challenged such as they were over Michael's case. How dare anyone think "they" would say this boy was brain dead if it weren't true? Perhaps they should take a long look at where this distrust is coming from and be displeased with the source. Perhaps they should be upset with the facilities that are dealing with illness and injury without compassion. Upset with the facilities that are rushing people to death. Upset with people like Schiavo, Greer, Cranford, Felos and the like that are on the "death tour" and seem to be getting rewarded for killing off an innocent woman.

Maybe KU Medical Center can become a leader in honesty within the health care community. A leader in making it "life over cost". A leader in doing all that is possible and no doubt in their efforts or their motives. Maybe they should fight to remove "futile care" laws from all states and all hospitals and health care facilities. Yes, there are a great many "maybes".

It is definitely sad that this young boy -- Michael J. Todd -- had to suffer death at such a young age. But it is good that his mother didn't "simply" accept his death notice (nor have to). It is good that a judge stepped up and said by action, "let's make sure". Good that an objective neurosurgeon was given the opportunity to examine and confirm.

Maybe Florida and Texas should look to Kansas and KU Medical Center, where it appears (by someone's hands) "respect for life" and "hope for life" reigned during this sad situation ordeal. In the end ... that is what happened this time. It needs to happen always. We must continue to ask (and demand) that it does.

Carrie Hutchens is a former law enforcement officer and a freelance writer who is active in fighting against the death culture movement and the injustices within the judicial and law enforcement systems.

Other work by Carrie Hutchens: Media Contradicts Media Contradicting Media