03/02/2025
ACTION ALERT:
Testimony Needed:
Joint Judiciary Committee
March 4, 2025- Tuesday at 1:00p
Committee Hearing for Ld 410
LD 410, sponsored by Representative Ragean Paul, would protect the families of medically fragile children in Maine, so that random medical professionals can’t simply write off your lchilda life so easily.
Background:
Simon Crosier was a baby born medically fragile In Missouri. After his premature death, his parents found that a Do Not Resuscitate order had been placed in his medical chart, and then he was given lorazepam. A drug contraindicated for him, which ultimately repressed his respiratory system. His chart documents a steady decline in oxygen, with no action taken by any of the professionals caring for him. What was more terrifying was that his parents discovered that the DNR was legally placed in his chart by the hospital. Without parental knowledge.
This tragedy led to the inception of “Simon’s Law”. A simple concept that prevents medical professionals from overriding the consent and wishes of parents and prevents them from witholding life saving measures. Life saving measures can be as simple as providing food and water, to resuscitation. How many awful stories have we seen reported in the last 10 years where a child or adult dependent has been denied even the most basic necessity such as food or water? It doesn’t matter how rare it may or may not be- the fact is that it shouldn’t happen ever. This is a simple bill that prevents it.