Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Mary Jane Pierce, a severely disabled five-month old baby, has been breathing on her own without a ventilator for two weeks, prompting lawyers to cancel an emergency court hearing over custody issues.
Justin Pierce and Michelle Arnold of Chilliwack were seeking joint custody of their daughter with the Fraser Valley Aboriginal Children and Family Services Society so they could make decisions about her health care, including using cannabis oil to reduce the number and severity of her seizures.
An emergency hearing had been scheduled for Wednesday in Chilliwack Provincial Court, but one of the couple's lawyers, Erin Haupt said because the baby's health is improving and "the urgency is decreasing," they decided to withdraw an application seeking joint custody.
"They are so optimistic right now because she is so much better and more responsive," said Haupt.
She said the provincial government will seek a protection hearing to renew custody of the child, and they are waiting for a court date, which could be in several weeks.
During that time, Haupt said they will prepare a case to demonstrate the couple is capable of custody. She added that the goal is to eventually allow them to bring Mary Jane home, possibly under supervised care.
Pierce and Arnold signed a temporary custody order when the baby was born 15 weeks premature on April 5, but say they did so under duress. They also say they never agreed to allow Mary Jane to be taken off life support to die.
Haupt said Pierce and Arnold have been learning how to use the life-saving equipment being used to care for Mary Jane at BC Women's Hospital, where the baby had been on a ventilator since birth. Two weeks ago, the couple agreed to take her off the ventilator, but only if she be put back on if she struggled to breathe.
Pierce and Arnold took their fight to court late last month after the baby's guardians planned to move her into palliative care at Canuck Place and take her off life support with the intent to let her die a natural death.
They won a temporary injunction to keep her on life support, after their lawyers successfully petitioned the judge to stop the Fraser Valley Aboriginal Children and Family Services Society from moving the baby to Canuck Place.
The society had argued that the baby was suffering from severe health problems and multiple seizures a day, some up to 25 minutes long. A lawyer for BC Women's Hospital, Penny Washington testified in court that keeping the baby alive was "inconsistent with human dignity."
However, the couple believe that there is hope for life, and that cannabis oil could be a treatment to help stop the seizures. They want tests conducted on Mary Jane using the oil, which contains low amounts of THC and high amounts of cannabidiol, or CBD, the component believed to reduce seizures.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Severely disabled Chilliwack baby breathing on her own without ventilator for two weeks
Author: Tiffany Crawford
Contact: Contact Author
Photo Credit: Flickr
Website: Vancouver News - Breaking News Headlines | Vancouver Sun
Justin Pierce and Michelle Arnold of Chilliwack were seeking joint custody of their daughter with the Fraser Valley Aboriginal Children and Family Services Society so they could make decisions about her health care, including using cannabis oil to reduce the number and severity of her seizures.
An emergency hearing had been scheduled for Wednesday in Chilliwack Provincial Court, but one of the couple's lawyers, Erin Haupt said because the baby's health is improving and "the urgency is decreasing," they decided to withdraw an application seeking joint custody.
"They are so optimistic right now because she is so much better and more responsive," said Haupt.
She said the provincial government will seek a protection hearing to renew custody of the child, and they are waiting for a court date, which could be in several weeks.
During that time, Haupt said they will prepare a case to demonstrate the couple is capable of custody. She added that the goal is to eventually allow them to bring Mary Jane home, possibly under supervised care.
Pierce and Arnold signed a temporary custody order when the baby was born 15 weeks premature on April 5, but say they did so under duress. They also say they never agreed to allow Mary Jane to be taken off life support to die.
Haupt said Pierce and Arnold have been learning how to use the life-saving equipment being used to care for Mary Jane at BC Women's Hospital, where the baby had been on a ventilator since birth. Two weeks ago, the couple agreed to take her off the ventilator, but only if she be put back on if she struggled to breathe.
Pierce and Arnold took their fight to court late last month after the baby's guardians planned to move her into palliative care at Canuck Place and take her off life support with the intent to let her die a natural death.
They won a temporary injunction to keep her on life support, after their lawyers successfully petitioned the judge to stop the Fraser Valley Aboriginal Children and Family Services Society from moving the baby to Canuck Place.
The society had argued that the baby was suffering from severe health problems and multiple seizures a day, some up to 25 minutes long. A lawyer for BC Women's Hospital, Penny Washington testified in court that keeping the baby alive was "inconsistent with human dignity."
However, the couple believe that there is hope for life, and that cannabis oil could be a treatment to help stop the seizures. They want tests conducted on Mary Jane using the oil, which contains low amounts of THC and high amounts of cannabidiol, or CBD, the component believed to reduce seizures.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Severely disabled Chilliwack baby breathing on her own without ventilator for two weeks
Author: Tiffany Crawford
Contact: Contact Author
Photo Credit: Flickr
Website: Vancouver News - Breaking News Headlines | Vancouver Sun
