Disabled man, 46, died from coronavirus after docs REFUSED to treat him because he had no quality of lif – The Sun

A DISABLED man died from COVID-19 because medics at a Texas hospital wouldn't treat him, a pro-life organization claimed.

St Davids South Austin Medical Center allegedly refused to treat quadriplegic Michael Hickson, 46, because his disability meant he had "no quality of life."

He contracted COVID-19 from a staff member in his nursing home, developed pneumonia, and was then hospitalized at St David's.

Texas Right to Life claimed that he was refused food and treatment for coronavirus there for six days before his virus death on June 11, 2020.

In a recorded conversation between a medic and his wife Melissa, the doctor tells her treating Hickson was futile give his condition.

"Who gets to make that decision whether somebody's quality of life, if they have a disability that their quality of life is not good?" she can be heard asking in the YouTube video.

"So as of right now, his quality of life he doesnt have much of one," the doctor replied. "Will it [the treatment] improve his quality of life and then answer is no.

"There's no improvement with being intubated with a bunch of lines and tubes in your body and being on a ventilator for two weeks."

He can be heard telling Melissa he can count on one hand the three people in the hospital who have survived on a ventilator, all of whom are young with no preexisting health conditions.

"I don't think it would be humane or compassionate to put a breathing tube in this man and to the lines and tubes and all that stuff because I don't think it will benefit him," the medic explained.

Melissa can be heard saying she agreed with the doctor about not intubating her ailing husband but accused him of not trying to save Hickson another way.

"None of these things are easy," he replies. "And this is a calculated decision. And we feel that this is what is going to be best for him."

I don't think it would be humane or compassionate to put a breathing tube in this man and to the lines and tubes.

"At this point, we are going to do what we feel is best for him along with the state and this is what we decided," he tells her a few minutes later. "This is the decision between the medical community and the state."

Melissa and another family member fought in court to be be Hicksons permanent guardian, according to the Texas pro-life group.

But a judge appointed Family Eldercare as Hickson's temporary guardian, who approved medical advice to place him in a hospice.

A spokesperson from St. David's South Austin Medical Center sent a statement to The Sun on the incident.

The loss of life is tragic under any circumstances. In Mr. Hicksons situation, his court-appointed guardian (who was granted decision-making authority in place of his spouse) made the decision in collaboration with the medical team to discontinue invasive care," the spokesperson said.

The statement continued: "This is always a difficult decision for all involved. We extend our deepest sympathies to Mr. Hicksons family and loved ones and to all who are grieving his loss."

While driving his wife Melissa to work in May 2017, Hickson became a quadriplegic after a sudden cardiac arrest, according to Texas Right to Life.

Hickson suffered an anoxic brain injury from the loss of oxygen to his brain after getting CPR but the organization and Melissa said he has been conscious and alert.

Another YouTube video, posted by Melissa in 2018, showed Hickson moving his face as his family joked and chatted to him.

He is survived by his 47-year-old widow and his five children.

Health experts have warned that older people or those with underlying conditions are most likely to get seriously ill if they contract the deadly bug.

In Texas, cases are dangerously surging and Gov Greg Abbott has pleaded with residents to stay home as new cases rose by 5,996 on Thursday, with a record numbers of hospitalizations.

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Disabled man, 46, died from coronavirus after docs REFUSED to treat him because he had no quality of lif - The Sun