Alberta Court Orders Baby M's Life-Sustaining Treatment Stopped over Her Muslim Parents' Objections

Madam Justice J.M. Ross of Queens Bench Alberta has issued a 15-page decision in the Baby M case.  I have posted a copy here.  Summarizing the dispute, Justice Ross observed that the parents' position is that "as devout Muslims and loving parents, they find it 'unthinkable to agree to limit or withdraw medical treatment' and they ask that the court honour [their] beliefs."



But the court refused to honor the parents' beliefs, explaining that it could not do so "where their beliefs come into a fundamental conflict with [the child's] best interests."  Justice Ross concluded that "a life without awareness and totally supported by machines is not in accord with the best interests of any patient."  Therefore, "it is in [the child's] best interests that life-sustaining treatment be stopped."