| Abstract: | University Health Services, Inc. petitioned the Superior Court of Richmond County, Georgia, for an order to maintain life support systems for Donna Piazzi, a brain dead patient, to preserve the life of her quickened, nonviable fetus until the point of delivery with a reasonable chance of survival. Robert Piazzi, the husband, requested termination of support. The guardian ad litem of the fetus and David Haddon, the putative father, requested maintenance of support. The Division of Family and Children Services argued that the Court lacked jurisdiction. The Court concluded that, based on case law and on Georgia statutes, only the mother has the right to terminate a quickened, nonviable fetus and that public policy requires the maintenance of life support systems for a brain dead mother as long as there exists a reasonable possibility that the fetus may develop and survive. |
