January 2021
As we have previously reported, Baby Tinslee’s fight for life started in November 2019 when a Texas hospital moved to end her life against her mother’s wishes under the deadly Texas 10-Day Rule*. Since then, a fierce court battle has been waged, with Baby Tinslee’s mother on one side and Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas on the other.
When a Texas appeals court ruled against the hospital, it struck a huge blow to the Texas 10-Day Rule statute. Since then, each higher court, including the US Supreme Court, has prevented the removal of Baby Tinslee’s life support. On January 11th, the Supreme Court of the United States weighed in, letting stand the opinion against the 10-Day Rule, so the case will return to the 48th District Court for final adjudication. No court date has been set.
What does this mean for Baby Tinslee? What does this mean for the future of Texas’s 10-Day Rule?
If the district court rules in favor of Baby Tinslee, the hospital will be permanently disallowed from removing the child’s medical treatment, including her ventilator, against her mother’s will. If this happens, hospitals across Texas will no longer be able to use the 10-Day Rule to hasten patients’ deaths. The result will be an incredible prolife victory in Texas!
Note: Texas Right to Life reports that they “saw a massive increase in hospitals’ use of the 10-Day Rule during the COVID-19 outbreak.”
With the Texas legislature convening for the 2021 session, everyone is looking to state lawmakers to abolish the horrific 10-Day Rule. We ask that you join HALO in praying that this rule will be abolished!
For more information on Baby Tinslee, visit:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: U.S. Supreme Court Sides with Baby Tinslee | Texas Right to Life