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Golubchuk Injunction Upheld - Winnipeg Hospital Ordered to Keep Patient on Life Support

Anti-euthanasia leader warns more action needed to protect Golubchuk, other patients from hastened death by doctors

By Steve Jalsevac 

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, February 13, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The injunction preventing Winnipeg's Grace General Hospital from removing Life-Sustaining Care from Samuel Golubchuk has been upheld by Justice Perry Schulman of the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench. The 84-year-old cognitively disabled patient's family has been battling hospital doctors who are determined to starve and dehydrate him to death regardless of the family's wishes. 

The Winnipeg Free Press reported today that Justice Schulman ruled that the patient and his family have a right to a civil trial and ordered the hospital to not remove life support. Schulman also said his order must be added to Golubchuk's hospital chart to ensure that all medical staff follow the decision. 

Alex Schadenberg, of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, is delighted with the decision but cautions that more action is needed. In a release today Schadenberg stated, "We need to demand that Grace General Hospital not take this case further and agree to leave Samuel Golubchuk and his family alone, as they spend time with their father as he experiences the final part of his life."
 
Schadenberg also urged the public to challenge The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Manitoba and demand that they drop their recent Statement on Witholding and Withdrawing Life-Sustaining Treatment. He warns, "This Statement gives physicians the sole power to end Life Sustaining Treatment, even when a person may regain consciousness and the family/proxy/representative opposes the decision of the physician."
 
The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition leader says, if the Physicians and Surgeons statement is not dropped "it will lead to cases, such as Terri Schiavo, where the person is not dying but is intentionally withheld fluids and food in order to cause their death. This would amount to euthanasia by omission on demand."
 
For further information go to: http://www.samuelgolubchuk.com or http://www.euthanasiaprevention.on.ca
 
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
1-877-439-3348


See Wesley Smith articles on Golubchuk case:

Golobchuk Update: Temporary Victory Against Futile Care Imposition
http://www.wesleyjsmith.com/blog/2008/02/golubchuk-update-temporary-victory.html

Golobchuck Case: The Arrogance of Futilitarianism: A Deadly Combination of Anti-Humanism, $, and the Imposition of a Duty to Die
http://www.wesleyjsmith.com/blog/2008/02/golobchuck-case-arrogance-of.html

Where is the Mainstream Media in the Samuel Golubchuk Futile Care Case?
http://www.wesleyjsmith.com/blog/2008/02/where-is-mainstream-media-in-samuel.htm...

See related LifeSiteNews.com stories:

Action Call to Save Samuel Golubchuk
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/feb/08021108.html

Right to Decide When to End Treatment is Doctor's, not Family's: Physician's Guidelines
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jan/08013106.html

Letter to the Editor for Monday, January 14, 2008
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jan/08011404.html

Canadian Hospital Wants to Withdraw Patient's Feeding Tube but Jewish Family Says No in Court
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/dec/07121212.html

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