Protecting the Most Vulnerable - The Elderly and Sick

Just as life needs to be protected at its very beginning stages, legal protections are also needed as life comes to a close. All life – from conception to death – is sacred and precious in God’s sight.

The Alliance Defense Fund is committed to defending the sanctity of human life and protecting those who are unable to defend themselves – like Jesse Ramirez.

Jesse Ramirez and his wife were in a terrible automobile accident. While his wife suffered injuries, Jesse suffered near-fatal head injuries, which left him in a coma. Less than 10 days later, this Gulf War veteran and father of three was transferred to hospice care – without even a feeding tube.

With Jesse’s death at hand, his desperate sister contacted the Alliance Defense Fund for help. By God’s grace, five days later, after ADF filed an action for a restraining order, the hospice restored his food, water, and antibiotics. Less than two weeks after doctors said Jesse was hopeless, he was conscious and responding to oral commands. In the following weeks, he regained motor skills and the ability to talk. Within six months, Jesse walked out of the hospital. This young man – who was essentially left to die – is now walking, talking, and enjoying life.

Thankfully, because of his family’s determination, and the dedicated, monthly support from Christians like you, ADF was able to quickly get Jesse’s sister appointed as his legal guardian, and get his nutrition restored before it was too late.

Jesse Ramirez and his sister Marlene.

Defending the Lives of the Defenseless

Jesse’s case is important, but unfortunately, it is not unique. ADF and allied attorneys who were trained at the ADF Legal Academy have successfully persuaded courts to save the lives of numerous other defenseless people:

• In Alaska, a hospital wanted a woman cut off from life-support, saying that keeping her alive violated its “ethical” standards.
• In Florida, a stroke victim’s husband wanted her feeding tube removed despite the fact that she was alert and made it clear that she did not want to die.
• In California, the wife of a father of three who had been critically injured in an automobile accident sought to have her husband’s treatment stopped and his feeding tube removed after he awoke from a 16-month coma and started to regain some cognitive and physical abilities.

Life-saving Victories

ADF has also played a pivotal role in funding two U.S. Supreme Court victories – which may have otherwise been lost – that affirmed the right to life for the handicapped, infirm, and terminally ill. Having a disability should not be a death sentence. By God’s grace, the Court recognized the importance of laws that prevent suicide, maintain physicians’ role as healers, and prevent the healing professions from sliding into practicing "euthanasia" - killing the defenseless.

We pray that the day will come when our nation’s laws again protect “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” for even the most defenseless among us. With your help, ADF will be there fighting for the sanctity of all human life created in the image of God.

Please pray, give generously, and stand with us as we work in every legal arena to secure life and liberty for the helpless. (John 15:5)

If you have a legal issue similar to one of the life-threatening situations discussed above, contact our legal intake team for help.