Texas Man Wants to End Pregnant Wife's Life Support

FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 23 (UPI) —
A Texas man said he wants to end life support for his pregnant wife, but state law puts the rights of their 18-week-old fetus above the desires of the mother.

Marlise Munoz, 33, became brain dead Nov. 26 when she collapsed from a suspected pulmonary embolism, ABC News reported Monday.

Her husband, Erick Munoz, a paramedic, found her on the living room floor of their Tarrant County, Texas, home, and performed CPR before an ambulance arrived.

Erick Munoz said he and his wife, who was also a paramedic, had decided they didn’t want to be kept alive by machines before Marlise Munoz fell ill. He said he wants to end her life support.

Texas law, though, puts the rights of the fetus first.

Erick Munoz would have to get a judge to grant an injunction or restraining order in order to end the woman’s life support, ABC News said.