HALO Testifies Against Deadly 10-Day Rule

 

A Message from The Healthcare Advocacy and Leadership Organization (HALO) JULIE GRIMSTAD TESTIFIES AGAINST TEXAS’ DEADLY 10-DAY RULE   On April 14, 2021, HALO’s President, Julie Grimstad, was in Austin to testify in favor of Texas House Bill 2609 (HB 2609)—the companion bill to Texas Senate Bill 917 (SB 917). Both bills would end the 10-Day Rule, Section 166.046 of the Texas Advance Directives Act (TADA). THE TEXAS 10-DAY RULE When a patient or their medical decision maker (usually family) disagrees with a physician’s opinion that life-sustaining treatment (LST) should be stopped, the physician can appeal to the hospital ethics committee. The 10-Day Rule allows this committee to decide to stop LST against the patient’s/family’s wishes. The patient/family is informed of the committee meeting only 48 hours in advance, so they have little time to prepare. The committee meets and follows up with a written notice of its decision, which usually is that LST is “inappropriate.” Receipt of this notice marks the start of a ten-day countdown, at the end of which all treatments necessary to prevent the patient’s death are abruptly stopped. Grimstad testified: “When we are sick and vulnerable, we count on physicians to protect and preserve our lives to the best of their ability. It boggles the mind that care which is beneficial and chosen by a patient can be deemed ‘medically inappropriate’ and legally denied to a patient by third parties. The interests and goals of physicians and hospital ethics committees, in such cases, conflict with the interests and goals of patients and their families. This seriously undermines trust in our doctors and hospitals.”   Just a week earlier, Grimstad had testified in favor of SB 917, which “would help eliminate the adversarial relationship the current law fosters and motivate doctors and hospitals to work with families to find other care settings and solutions.” SB 917 and HB 2609 require LST to be provided until the patient can be transferred to a care facility that will honor their medical decisions. This proposed change in the law is both reasonable and compassionate. It also acknowledges the unalienable right to life of every human person.   Please join HALO in praying that the Texas Legislature will abolish the 10-Day Rule. BETRAYED BY HOSPICE The weekly radio show, Betrayed by Hospice, informs listeners of the potential dangers, terminology and red flags of hospice. You won’t want to miss this week’s program with Alex Schadenberg from Euthanasia Prevention Coalition. Schadenberg will be providing useful information on what is happening in many hospice facilities. Learn how to protect yourself and your family. Dial 1-917-388-4520 on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at 5 p.m. Pacific/6 p.m. Mountain/ 7 p.m. Central/8 p.m. Eastern.     Questions will be taken at the end of the program. You will be able to select 1 if you have a question. Click here.   An archive of all Betrayed by Hospice shows can be found here. We encourage you to check them out! Want to Help HALO? DONATE NOW and be a Voice for the Medically Vulnerable.  Thank you for your support! Our organization is a 501 (c)(3) organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. If you would like to donate through the mail, please send checks only to: HALO, 7301 Bass Lake RD, Minneapolis, MN 55428. MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Healthcare Advocacy and Leadership Organization is to promote, protect, and advocate for the rights of the medically vulnerable through direct patient and family interactions; through intercessory prayer; through community education and awareness programs; and through promotion and development of concrete *"life-affirming healthcare"* alternatives for those facing the grave consequences of healthcare rationing and unethical practices, especially those at risk of euthanasia and assisted suicide *"Life-affirming healthcare" is defined as medical care in which the paramount principle is the sanctity of life, which means that the life and safety of each person come first and each person receives medical care across their lifespan based on their need for care and never with an intention to hasten death, regardless of their abilities or perceived "quality of life." Copyright © 2021 HALO. All rights reserved.

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