Broward General Medical Center v. Okonewski

46 Fla. Supp. 120
CourtCircuit Court of the 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County
DecidedSeptember 1, 1977
DocketNo. 77-14026; No. 77-14027
StatusPublished

This text of 46 Fla. Supp. 120 (Broward General Medical Center v. Okonewski) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Circuit Court of the 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Broward County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Broward General Medical Center v. Okonewski, 46 Fla. Supp. 120 (Fla. Super. Ct. 1977).

Opinion

STEPHEN R. BOOHER, Circuit Judge.

Order, September 1, 1977: This cause came on to be heard upon an application by the petitioner, North Broward Hospital District, dib/a. Broward General Medical Center, for an order to [124]*124compel emergency medical treatment, specifically life-saving medical aid to Linda Okonewski, defendant in Case No. 77-14027, and with respect to the unborn and to-be-born child of Linda Okonewski, in Case No. 77-14026, based upon the religious beliefs of Linda Okonewski, and the court having heard extensive testimony in this matter, argument of counsel, and being otherwise fully, advised in the premises, finds as follows —

1. That this court has jurisdiction over the defendant, Linda Okonewski.

2. That this court has absolute jurisdiction over the unborn child of Linda Okonewski, under Chapters 39 and 827, Florida Statutes.

3. That the administrator of Broward General Medical Center, Mr. Jack Stephens, has communicated thoroughly with the physicians of the defendant, Dr. Warren Greenberg, the treating obstetrician, and Dr. Michael Halle, the treating pediatrician, with respect to the medical conditions, complications and consequences involved, and the defendant has been well advised of such medical conditions, complications and consequences. These communications have been extended not only to the defendant, Linda Okonewski, but to her husband, Robert Okonewski, and to the defendant’s mother, Mrs. Orberg, all of whom are aware of the position of the hospital and the physicians in this case. They have actual notice of the medical opinions of the doctors and of the hospital that should blood transfusions be necessary they would seek the court’s assistance in having them administered. The finding of notice of the hospital’s position is amply supported by the appearance of Martin Brooks, Esq., who indicated he was consulted by the Okonewskis; however, was not retained.

4. That the court received a telephone call from. Mrs. Orberg, mother of the defendant Linda Okonewski, to which the attorney for the North Broward Hospital District and Martin Brooks, Esq. were participants. Mrs. Orberg related to the court that she had transported Linda Okonewski to the Troward County 'courthouse for the purpose of attending the hearing on this matter, and upon reaching the courthouse, Linda Okonewski was met by her husband, who proceeded together with Linda Okonewski to get into a car and leave the courthouse.

5. That the defendant, Linda Okonewski, and her husband and mother, have actual notice of the pendency of these proceedings; they had the opportunity to be present and to offer testimony on behalf of their position; however, chose not to avail themselves of such opportunity.

6. That, in the absence of their decision or their opportunity to appear in this court and their decision not to do so, the court, [125]*125exercising its authority under the laws of the Florida, appointed a guardian ad litem to represent the best interest and welfare of the child to be born.

7. That all federal and state constitutional requirements of procedural and substantive due process have been satisfied, and that the court therefore has jurisdiction to consider the issues presented.

8. The court finds, based upon the testimony and the thorough cross-examination and inquiry of Dr. Greenberg, that the defendant is RH-negative and at 33% weeks of pregnancy she demonstrated the development of an RH sensitization with a positive RH titer. It has also been determined that she has a transverse lie of the fetus with a low lying anterior wall placenta, with a . 95% surety of á placenta previa. In addition, she is known to be a Class A diabetic.

9. That this court accepts the testimony of Warren Green-berg, M.D., that, in the event this Caesarean Section is performed, with the size of the uterine artery at this time, there could be a rapid loss of blood and insufficient time to go about the deliberate process of typing the blood for the defendant, that the risk of not having the blood typing in advance of the operation and the necessary blood available at their disposal is an unacceptable risk and one that this court, under the applicable authority, could not approve.

10. Further testimony indicated that an anesthesiologist would not administer the anesthesia for a Caesarean Section without the necessary blood being available prior to the commencement Of such surgery.

11. That the testimony of Mr. Jack Stephens, hospital administrator, and Dr. Greenberg, treating obstetrician, indicates that the mother, being aware of all these medical problems, will not consent to any blood transfusion if the necessity presents itself, based upon her religious beliefs.

12. That the court finds that the situation is therefore life threatening to the defendant, Linda Okonewski, if transfusion, in the medical judgment of the treating physician, is necessary and there is no order to so perform. . •

13. The court finds that all of the testimony of Dr. Greenberg was carefully qualified as being based upon reasonable medical probability or certainty.

14. With respect to the mother, Linda Okonewski, the court finds that it has the authority to enter the order because the mother, while fully competent mentally, is in physical danger; that she is already the mother and parent of' a minor child, with another expected, ánd that because of that fact, despite her competency and her choice with respect to refusing a transfusion, the court has [126]*126the authority to order life saving medical treatment. That authority is the parens patriae authority of the state acting through this court with respect to matters affecting a child’s welfare. The court relies on the authority of United States v. George, (1965, D.C. Conn.) 239 F. Supp. 752, and Application of President & Directors of Georgetown College, Inc. (1964) 118 App. D.C. 80, 331 F2d 1000, 9 ALR 3d 1367.

The court finds as to the Infant Okonewski as follows —

15. The testimony indicates that the child is 36% weeks into the gestation period and well past any court decision as to being a separate individual with the rights of a separate individual and the infant, having no voice, is entitled to and in need of the representation of a guardian ad litem.

16. That the testimony of Michael A. Halle, M.D., indicates that the unborn child stands a 45% chance of developing jaundice and complications thereof. If the child is born jaundiced or pale, or both, or if there is obvious edema, or if the liver and spleen of the child are greatly enlarged, an exchange transfusion must be performed on this child immediately after birth. If the baby’s clinical condition at birth appears good, but if the direct Coombs test result is positive, if the cord hemoglobin is less than 11 gm%, or if the cord bilirubin is greater than 4 mg%, an exchange transfusion will have to be carried out as soon as possible. If an exchange transfusion is not carried out under the above conditions, the resulting complications would be mental and/or motor retardation and/or death.

17. That an additional factor exists, namely that which was testified by Drs.

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239 F. Supp. 752 (D. Connecticut, 1965)

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Bluebook (online)
46 Fla. Supp. 120, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/broward-general-medical-center-v-okonewski-flacirct17bro-1977.