Texan girl at center of legal battle for life support of victims

Payton Summons has been declared cerebral, but her parents want to keep her alive.
(Fox 4 News)

A 9-year-old Texan girl, suffering from cancer, died Friday, just hours after a court of appeal ruled that the hospital where she had been cared for only could no longer exempt her from the maintenance of life.

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Payton Summons was suffering from a tumor that affected her circulation and prevented her from breathing alone She was declared cerebral in the hospital after suffering a heart attack last month .

"At Cook Children's [Medical Center]We are mourning the loss of any young life and we understand that this period has been difficult and heartbreaking for this family, "said Winifred King, spokesman for the Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth. Out of respect for Payton and her parents, we think it's inappropriate to comment for the moment. "

The Summons family thought their daughter could recover and had conducted a series of court battles with the hospital about their daughter's care.

Cook Children appealed a judge's decision on October 15 to extend a stay order for her mother until Monday.

"Cook Children's stated that it was" medically, ethically, and morally repugnant "to provide such care to Payton," said Paul Stafford, one of the lawyers representing the girl's family, in response to the # 39; call.

The decision gave the family an extra week to find a health facility that would take care of the girl.

The hospital objected to the decision, claiming that the summons "had suffered complete and irreversible destruction of the entire brain, including the brainstem, so no treatment can be provided for him, Cook, or in another guard the PS alive. "

The extension would have expired at 6 pm Monday, clearing the way for the hospital to remove it from the life support.

"The actions of Cook Children are contrary to the best interests of the child, to the wishes of his parents, to the court order, to the legislation in force, to the written policies of the child. hospital, at the will of the public and in the spirit of compassion, said Stafford.