A brain injured twenty-three year old mother has been placed in the custody of a parent who wants to remove her feeding tube.  Once again, a court battle centers on the undocumented wishes of an incapacitated person who cannot decide for herself. Lauren Richardson is the victim of a heroin overdose.  She was pregnant at the time and was placed on a breathing machine until the baby was delivered, one year ago.   Nicole Theis of the Delaware Family Policy Council picks-up Lauren’s story.

“Since that time she was moved off of the breathing machines, and she is in a rehabilitation center, much like a nursing home.”

Lauren’s father, Randy Richardson, is leading the drive to maintain the feeding tube. He’s released an internet video in which Lauren appears to respond to family members. 

“He feels hopeful she will improve with the right therapy and the father wishes to move her into his own home and take care of her.” 

But a Delaware Court has given custody to Lauren’s mother, who says her daughter once told her she would not want to live in an incapacitated state.  So, Lauren’s future has become a “she-says-he-says” dispute between a long-divorced mother and father.  Carrie Gordon Earll, Senior Bioethics Analyst at Focus on the Family says the case is a warning to us all.

“Talk to your parents, your spouse, your children, to the people who are closest to you. Talk to the people who might be making a decision for you, if something tragic would happen.

Lauren’s custody case is in appeal, but that may take ninety-days.  The feeding tube could be pulled within weeks, which would quickly bring Lauren’s death by dehydration.  For Family News in Focus, I’m Terry Phillips.