SBS: Mallorca: Palma judge to decide fate of coma baby

10 February 2011

 A JUDGE in Palma will have to decide on whether to end the life of seven month old baby girl who is in an irreversible coma. The baby has been in a coma for the past six months at Son Dureta having suffered a cerebral haemorrhage. The baby’s parents attributed the damage to a genetic disorder however the girl’s condition is also consistent with ‘shaken baby syndrome’.

The baby was made a ward of court as a result.
Last week the Juvenile Office asked for permission to provide only comfort measures and primary care to the child after a direct request from the Ethics Committee at Son Espases Hospital.
In practice this would mean there would be a ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ order should the baby get into respiratory problems. The child has been resuscitated five times in the past two months, and the hospital staff has had to incubate her on these occasions.
In the Ethics Committee report it said, “we feel that we are in an irreversible situation where we are forced to use aggressive therapy on the child.”
The baby’s parents have appealed to regain custody of their daughter. At the hearing the parents asked for the decision about the Ethics Committee report to be postponed. The baby’s parents continue to deny they abused their baby.
The manager of the nursery which their other daughter attends has said that she “was always very happy” to see her parents, and a neighbour has said that they were an “exemplary family.”
However the baby’s doctor has said that the child can barely breathe without assistance that she experiences pain and therefore has to be kept sedated.