Parents Say Hospital Entered DNR Order|For Teen Daughter Against Their Wishes

HOUSTON (CN) - After doctors at Memorial Herman Children's Hospital botched a teen-ager's care after two brain surgeries, they "entered at least two 'do not resuscitate' orders ... in the medical records, in a flagrant disregard for her family's decision and wishes," the family claims in Harris County Court.

After the surgeries, the doctors "began pressuring (her) family to withhold treatment and feeding, which would, of course, take her life," said the complaint, and then entered the orders to avoid resuscitation.

The family of Sabrina Martin, who was 14 at the time, says they had to transfer her to another hospital to get proper care, and that she is severely disabled and unable to care for herself.

The complaint states: "although the medical records are replete with references to the desire of Sabrina's parents for curative care to continue, Defendants entered at least two 'do not resuscitate' orders were entered (sic) in the medical records, in a flagrant disregard for her family's decision and wishes. When Memorial and the other Defendants realized that their fake DNR orders may not end Sabrina's life, as they had planned and hoped, they consulted with the Memorial ethic (sic) committee and threatened the family with instituting a futility review proceeding to force Sabrina's death in the near future. Sabrina's family needed to get Sabrina transferred to a hospital whose physicians and staff were interested in caring from (sic) Sabrina, rather than arranging her demise."

The family demands punitive damages. They are represented by Robert Painter.

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