Dad still trying to block removal of baby's life support; could face homicide charges with baby's death (Akron, Ohio)

It's just repulsive that dad JOHN JONES, who has been charged with abusing his infant daughter, has any say at all in any of the medical or life support decisions concerning the baby's care. Of course he's blocking the removal of life support--he doesn't want to face possible murder charges. Pure self-interest. But daddies must have their rights, you know. We've posted on this case before.

http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/97868374.html

Judge hears testimony over Baby Jada's fate
By Gina Mace

POSTED: 01:36 p.m. EDT, Jul 06, 2010

Special to the Beacon Journal

Doctors can no longer do anything for 9-month-old Jada Jones.

The doctors say they can only do things to her.

The baby is at the heart of a medical tug-of-war pitting a mother against the father accused of causing Jada's injuries.

As Jada lies in a hospital bed in the pediatric intensive care unit, her parents were in Summit County Probate Judge Bill Spicer's courtroom Tuesday morning.

Jada's mother, Deja Ruiz, 19, wants to heed the doctors' recommendations to discontinue life support.

Ruiz wants Spicer to order the machines keeping her baby alive to be removed so Jada can, as her mother wishes, ''go to a better place.''

Jada's father, John Jones, 17, doesn't think Spicer should be the one to make the decision. His lawyer, Pamela Hawkins, said the case belongs in juvenile court.

If Jada dies, Jones could be charged with killing her.

Dr. John Pope, director of Akron Children's Hospital pediatric intensive care unit, testified Tuesday that Jada will never recover from the injuries she received on March 19.

Jones is charged with shaking the infant girl so hard that he fractured bones in her legs and caused bleeding in her brain, behind her retinas and in her spine.

''There is no reason to do anything else,'' Pope said of the decision to recommend removing life support.

Dr. Sarah Friebert, director of palliative care for Children's, said the only evidence of brain function is an occasional breath Jada takes on her own.

The doctor explained that the child does not react to her environment, is blind and deaf and her pupils are fixed and dialated.

If she remains on life support, Dr. Frievert said, Jada would have to undergo surgeries to place tubes for breathing and feeding.

Dr. Pope said there is no doctor at Children's who would even perform such a surgery because of the hopelessness of Jada's condition.

He further testified that Jada's health has worsened in the four months since she was admitted and she is losing brain tissue.

''I truly believe with all my heart what we're doing right now has no point,'' Pope said. ''We have a little girl's body hooked to a breathing machine. I saw her an hour ago. The way she was then is the way she was a month ago and the month before that.''

Testimony will continue this afternoon.