Life support battle moves from Edmonton hospital to courtroom
Diwan Jhand held his daughter as she sobbed while they listened to lawyers argue over the life of their wife and mother.
Veena Jhand has been on life support since suffering a heart attack last month.
Doctors say she experienced irreparable brain damage as a result of oxygen deprivation.
Last week her family was presented with a letter which said she would be taken off life support.
While a court injunction granted the Jhands a 30-day reprieve, Alberta Health Services is appealing the ruling.
AHS lawyers called it "medically impossible" to keep Veena Jhand on life support long term at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute.
"The family has had a great deal of time," said Rose Carter to the judge. The patient is in the process of deterioration."
She requested the judge make a ruling Thursday, because numerous tests conducted on Jhand have shown she cannot survive without life support.
Hardeep Sangha, the lawyer for Jhand, requested seven more days to get an independent second opinion on the condition of Veena's brain.
Carter argued that seven days was too long. "The patient may be dead in 7 days."
She requested the judge visit Veena in the hospital to make his ruling, but that was denied.
The case will continue in court on June 3, where the judge will decide if Veena will continue on life support or not.
