Family of Christian woman fights judicial decision to withdraw life support

The family of Hyacinth McIntosh, a Christian woman taken off life support, protests the court's decision, citing it as a violation of her beliefs and right to life.

The family of a Christian woman is voicing strong opposition to a court’s decision that led to her being taken off life support, which they believe directly contradicts her faith and values.

They argue that the ruling ignored her religious beliefs and her fundamental right to life.

Background of the Case

Hyacinth McIntosh, aged 54, was removed from life support and deprived of hydration, actions that her family claims conflicted with her expressed preferences.

In November 2024, the Court of Protection authorized the disconnection of her ventilator and the halting of her nutritional support and fluids, culminating in her death on Christmas Day, December 25, 2024.

Legal records indicate that McIntosh had been in a coma since May after suffering a heart attack that caused significant brain damage.

Throughout this harrowing ordeal, her family firmly opposed the decision to withdraw hydration, emphasizing that such actions contradicted her Christian convictions regarding the sanctity of life.

Her daughter, Shanika Davis, lamented that the clinicians’ refusal to provide essential fluids deepened their grief during an already devastating time.

She characterized her mother’s dying moments as lacking dignity and respect, posing the challenging question of how such a process could serve her best interest.

Family’s Concerns

Davis expressed that both the hospital and the judicial system blatantly disregarded their family’s wishes and her mother’s inherent right to life.

McIntosh had relied on artificial ventilation and nasogastric feeding until December 14, when, following the court’s ruling, these critical supports were withdrawn.

Despite efforts to appeal the decision at the last minute, the withdrawal proceeded.

Remarkably, she managed to breathe on her own after the ventilator was removed, defying medical expectations about her survival, as her oxygen levels remained stable up until her passing.

The family believes that McIntosh’s faith would have driven her to choose continued life support, trusting that divine intervention would guide her fate.

They hold both medical professionals and judges accountable for what they view as an inhumane ending to her life, particularly criticizing the decision to deny her fluids.

They also pointed out the limitations they faced in seeking alternative options like transferring her to a different hospital due to restrictions imposed by the Court of Protection.

Expert Opinions and Advocacy

The King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust moved quickly after the court’s decision, asserting that continuing treatment was not in her best interest.

Support for the family emerged from Professor Sam Ahmedzai, a retired physician specializing in palliative care who contributed to the development of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.

In his comments to the Court of Protection, he denounced the ruling to Withhold hydration as both cruel and humiliating, arguing that there was no adequate justification for stopping nutritional support, especially after the ventilator had been disconnected.

Ahmedzai warned that some healthcare practices echo those from the now-discredited Liverpool Care Pathway, which allowed for the withdrawal of fluids from patients nearing the end of life.

Andrea Williams, the chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which aligns with Christian Concern, raised alarms about how cases like McIntosh’s might foreshadow the treatment of vulnerable patients under future assisted dying laws.

She stressed that effective legislation should protect life instead of eroding ethical standards.

Now, McIntosh’s family is advocating for “dehydration” to be listed as the cause of her death on her death certificate.

However, they have been informed that this will not be included.

Source: Christianpost

Avatar photo

Lauren Bauer

Lauren Bauer is a dedicated editor with a passion for Christian living and helping others grow in their faith. With a background in spiritual writing and content curation, she brings a unique blend of creativity and deep biblical understanding to her role. Lauren is committed to providing meaningful, faith-centered resources that inspire readers to live with purpose, grace, and joy. Her approach emphasizes practical application of biblical wisdom, aiming to support Christians in their daily walk with Christ. Through her work, she seeks to create a welcoming space where individuals can explore and deepen their spiritual journeys.