Life Legal Defense Foundation is working with the brother of a 52-year-old man who is being denied life-saving medical treatment at a California hospital in violation of a court order. The hospital said they must help the man die with “dignity.”

Wayde Luce, 52, was admitted to John Muir Hospital in Concord on January 23 for emergency dialysis treatment. Contrary to his family’s wishes, Wayde was given Fentanyl and Ativan – two powerful drugs that cause central nervous depression According to the CDC, Fentanyl is 100 times more powerful than morphine. Wayde’s brother, Dale Luce, asked the hospital not to sedate Wayde. Wayde was nauseated and Dale was concerned his brother would choke on his vomit if he were sedated.

The hospital ignored Dale’s request. When Dale learned that his brother had received the sedatives, he instructed the hospital staff to monitor Wayde closely.

Just a few hours later, Wayde did aspirate his vomit, which triggered a heart attack.

As a result of the heart attack, Wayde suffered a brain injury that left him incapacitated. The hospital told Wayde’s family he was “brain dead” and would never breathe on his own or recover any brain function. But just a few days later, Wayde started breathing on his own. He can open his eyes and responds to questions by blinking. He can lift his head off his pillow.

The hospital maintains that these developments are “involuntary” and is now withholding treatment from Wayde, including dialysis and blood pressure support. Initially doctors said Wayde’s blood pressure was too low and that dialysis would be dangerous. However Wayde has been able to maintain his blood pressure without medication – but the hospital refuses to provide treatment.

Dale called Life Legal in a panic, saying his brother’s condition was deteriorating and that he would die if he didn’t get dialysis soon.

Life Legal attorneys worked through the night to help Dale obtain a court order requiring the hospital to provide medical care including dialysis. But today the hospital staff said they are not changing Wayde’s care plan – which means they are still denying treatment and knowingly violating the court order. Moreover, Wayde has an advance directive stating that he wants “full treatment,” meaning all measures necessary to sustain his life…

The above comes from a Feb. 21 email sent by Life Legal Defense Foundation Sacramento.

Click here to watch video of Wayde’s family testifying to what happened.