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Conversation unstarred. Conversation opened. 1 unread message. Skip to content Using Gmail with screen readers Enable desktop notifications for Gmail. OK No thanks 73 of 107 Hospital DETERMINED to kill recovering patient Inbox x Life Legal Defense Foundation webmaster@lldf.org via mail153.atl61.mcsv.net Feb 16, 2018, 9:06 PM to me View this email in your browser. Hospital DETERMINED to kill recovering patient JACKSONVILLE, FL: A hospital in Jacksonville, Florida has threatened to withdraw food and water from a 33-year-old patient who recently suffered a gunshot wound. Joel Zuniga was unable to breathe on his own after being shot. Only two weeks after his injury, the hospital unilaterally determined to remove Joel’s ventilator, over the objections of his family. Fr. David Nix, the family’s priest and a former EMT and paramedic, encouraged the family to instruct the hospital not to give Joel a heavy dose of narcotics when doctors removed the ventilator, so as not to suppress his ability to breathe. The hospital begrudgingly complied. Fr. Nix was present to administer last rites. Joel struggled to breathe for a few minutes and then, miraculously, began taking full breaths! He has now been off of artificial respiration for two days and his vital signs are good. Although Joel has suffered brain damage and is unable to speak, he is awake and is starting to show some response when his family talks to him. Joel survived a gunshot wound to the head. He survived being taken off of a ventilator. Now the hospital is refusing to provide Joel with proper nutrition and hydration. The family finally convinced doctors to give Joel an IV, but they still refuse to adequately feed Joel. Health care providers have also tried to pressure Joel’s parents—who speak only Spanish—to sign a form that would only give Joel “comfort” care and nothing more in an attempt to withdraw all treatment, including food, water, and antibiotics. "Joel is 33 years old and he was shot in the head. He survived the gunshot and was on a ventilator at Memorial Hospital for two weeks. When he was taken off the ventilator, he immediately began breathing on his own. Joel is even able to make eye contact and he understands us. Joel's physician has decided to withhold all food from this patient because of Joel's projected “quality-of-life." Alex, his brother recorded a conversation of the doctor refusing to provide treatment for Joel. This is clear euthanasia. The staff at Memorial Hospital is starving him to death and we are so thankful that Legal Defense Foundation is willing to fight for Joel's life.” —FrDave Nix This is one of the most egregious cases of denial of health care I have ever seen. Joel’s parents are particularly vulnerable because they do not speak English. The hospital is exploiting their inability to question a course of action that puts Joel’s life at risk. Joel is a young man in his early thirties who is showing remarkable signs of recovery, yet the hospital is taking aggressive measures to shorten his life. Life Legal attorneys continue to work to restore Joel's nutrition as I write this. We are so grateful for our legal team--and we are grateful for YOU! Without your fervent prayers and faithful support, we could not mobilize the resources needed to intervene in cases like Joel's. Alexandra Snyder Executive Director PLEASE DONATE TODAY! How to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones: Workshops in Northern California Life Legal staff will be speaking at a series of workshops on February 21, 22, 24 and March 10 on issues such as: Choosing your health care decision maker Understanding advance health care directives Challenging a health care decision on behalf of a loved one Seeking practical legal advice on these issues The workshops will be held at Catholic Churches in the East Bay Area. Click here for more information. Do you need a speaker for your next event? Life Legal can provide pro-life speakers for your small or large group event. We would love to share the latest in the David Daleiden cases, provide an update on our lawsuit challenging California's assisted suicide law, or address other pressing life issues. Please call 707-224-6675 or fill out this online form to request a speaker! PLEASE DONATE TODAY! Please pray for Life Legal cases "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 You can print a copy of our most recent prayer update here. URGENT: February 21: Criminal hearing in David Daleiden case. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra charged Daleiden with 15 felony counts under the State's eavesdropping statute, which prohibits the recording of "confidential communications." The conversations at issue, which were part of Daleiden's investigation into Planned Parenthood's role in the sale of fetal body parts for profit, all took place in public areas such as restaurants where there would be no reasonable expectation of confidentiality. March 5: Status update in case involving withdrawal of food and water from a disabled man. March 6: Case management conference in Planned Parenthood v. Center for Medical Progress March 12: Hearing in Ahn v. Hestrin, Life Legal's challenge to California's assisted suicide law. March 20: Oral arguments before the Supreme Court in NIFLA v. Becerra, involving a challenge to a California law that requires pro-life pregnancy centers to refer women for state-funded abortions. Life Legal submitted an amicus brief on behalf of Priests for Life and the Justice Foundation in support of pregnancy centers. TBD: The U.S. Supreme Court will determine whether to grant certiorari in National Abortion Federation v. David Daleiden/CMP. Life Legal submitted our petition for review in August 2017. The Court has requested additional briefing on the issues from NAF, which indicates that they may consider the case for review. McKitty v. Hayani: Life Legal is assisting in the Canadian case of 27-year-old Taquisha McKitty, who was declared brain dead in September, but has since been exhibiting movements and responses incompatible with brain failure. We are waiting for the judge's ruling after a 5-day trial that centered on Taquisha's religious belief that life is not determined solely on the basis of neurological criteria. September 28, 2018: Trial begins in Ahn v. Hestrin, Life Legal's challenge to California's assisted suicide law. We are currently obtaining evidence about the implementation of the law. Masterpiece Cakes v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court on December 5. Please pray for a decision that preserves religious freedom! Life Legal submitted an amicus brief on behalf of pro-life physicians. Two Rivers School v. Darnell et al. (D.C.)—Pro-life advocates protested the building of a Planned Parenthood megacenter adjacent to a middle school in Washington, D.C. The school district sued. Life Legal is representing the lead plaintiff in the case. Case is stayed at the appellate level waiting on the appellate court to render a decision. Passamore v. 21st Century Oncology (Fla.)—Discriminatory termination of two medical employees for taking part in prolife activities after work hours. Planned Parenthood v. MMB Properties, Inc. (Fla.)—Waiting for ruling in case where a medical office complex refused to allow Planned Parenthood to perform abortions on its premises. Diss v. Portland Public Schools (Ore.)—First Amendment case where a public school teacher was fired for refusing to facilitate a Planned Parenthood sex ed program in his classroom. Currently on appeal before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Planned Parenthood v. CMP/David Daleiden—Lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood against David Daleiden seeking millions of dollars in damages. The case is currently before the Ninth Circuit. PLEASE DONATE TODAY! Share Tweet Forward ... [Message clipped] View entire message