June 17, 2008
“Red and yellow, black and white, we are precious in His sight.” At the Alliance Defense Fund, we know that our lives are in God’s hands, in His control from the moment of conception until the hour He calls us home. However, two fragile lives, that cannot defend themselves, are not being treated as the precious gifts they are.
Just weeks ago, the Alaska Supreme Court granted an ADF-allied attorney’s motion and signed an order that will keep a hospital from removing a woman’s life-support. Without that order, the hospital could end her life in minutes. Some at the hospital said keeping this woman alive violates “ethical” standards. With ADF support the woman’s husband stepped in and filed suit to protect her. By the grace of God, this woman’s life will go on.
“No one should be allowed to decide that an innocent life is worthless,” said ADF Senior Counsel Joe Infranco. “A man is caring for the wife he loves. We are pleased with the court’s decision to allow this woman to continue receiving her treatment, respecting the wishes of the patient and her husband.”
In Florida, Karen Weber is a stroke victim whose husband wants to have her feeding tube removed, even though his wife made it clear that she does not want to die. Karen has communicated with ADF-allied attorney, Joseph Rodowicz, by blinking her eyes and using hand signals. She also communicates with family and staff by using her arms. With Rodowicz’s help, her mother has filed suit on Karen’s behalf in an effort to save her daughter’s life.
“Having some physical disabilities shouldn’t be a death sentence,” Rodowicz said. “She survived her stroke. She isn’t incompetent simply because someone else isn’t satisfied with how she is living. Moreover, she plainly expressed that she didn’t want to go to hospice.”
These cases remind us of Jesse Ramirez, whose right to life was preserved by ADF attorneys. After surviving a tragic automobile accident, his life was nearly ended again when his food and water were withheld and he was transferred to hospice to starve to death. Thanks to ADF lawyers and the grace of God, today, Jesse is at home, walking and talking because of his family's determination, and your prayerful support.
The cases in Alaska and Florida are not over and need much prayer. These cases are not unique. “Unfortunately, forces in our culture are pushing the view that ‘convenience’ should be weighed against the sanctity of life,” said Infranco. “Even in cases where the patient is communicative and has expressed a will to live.” At ADF, we recognize that all human life is sacred, from conception to death. But daily, we are confronting a culture that increasingly holds human life as disposable. ADF is determined to protect life in case after case, from challenging efforts to legalize euthanasia to defending the free speech rights of pro-life advocates. It's true that life is sacred... but we must work together to make sure it stays that way.