KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | End of Life Debate

End of Life Debate

By: Nicole Garcia and Kyra Jenkins

Fresno - 46-year-old Janet Rivera has been in a coma for the past two and a half years, after she suffered a major heart attack in 2006.

The Fresno County Public Guardian's Office had taken over her medical care because, they say, her husband failed to take care of her needs.

Up until Tuesday the County had the power to decide Rivera's fate, but now it's her cousin's responsibility.

"Janet is a really strong person... feisty girl," said Suzanne Emrich, Rivera's cousin, who is now the temporary conservator over Rivera's medical care.

A Fresno County judge said both the County and family members agreed to allow Emrich to take over.

"We were best friends when we were younger, I thought she was okay," said Emrich, who lives in Santa Cruz County.

Emrich and Rivera's brother were both in court to fight for the right to decide how Rivera will eventually die.

The County ordered the 46-year-old woman be removed from life support on July 11th.

Court documents show that the County believed it was a reasonable and humane decision, but Rivera did not pass away.  So her family challenged the county's decision, and a judge ordered the feeding tubes be replaced just 12 days later.

Rivera is now being treated at Community Regional Medical Center.

"We're not completely out of the woods yet, we don't know what 12 days of dehydration and starvation did to the body, but from what it seems like, she doesn't seem to be suffering," said Michael Dancoff, Rivera's brother who traveled to Fresno from Berkeley.

Rivera will likely spend the rest of her life in a hospital bed.  Her family says they plan to keep her on life support until she is ready to die.

"The goal was if she's going to pass, let her pass on her own breath...not by being assisted in death," said Dancoff.

Rivera remains on life support, her condition is listed as stable and she is believed to be comfortable and pain free.

The County still has to interview and investigate Suzanne Emrich before she is named the permanent conservator.