Court grants injunction, keeping Brampton woman on life support

By Cristina Howorun

A week after doctors at Brampton Civic Hospital declared a 27-year-old woman dead, a judge has given her another chance at life.

On Thursday, Ontario Superior Court Judge Lucille Shaw granted Taquisha McKitty’s family an injunction until their next court date in mid-October — giving them a chance to have another physician examine McKitty and her medical charts.

“This means so much to us as a family because this is all we’ve been asking from Day 1 is just to give her more time,” McKitty’s cousin Ajwoa Atuahene said outside the Brampton court.

“They wanted to pull the plug on her within one week. That’s not enough time. She’s still alive; she’s still fighting; she’s still breathing. She’s here with us.”

Doctors declared McKitty brain dead and signed her death certificate on Sept. 20, six days after she was admitted to the hospital following a drug overdose.

She’s been on life support since then, and her family has been fighting with the hospital to keep her alive, saying her heart is still beating and she has been responsive.

“When we touch her, when we ask her to move, she moves,” Atuahene said. “She’s responding. She’s doing everything on her own. She’s fighting and she’s not ready to go.”

The William Osler Health System declined to comment on the case due to privacy, but said two experienced physicians make the determination of death, following a recognized standard of practice and criteria.

“We’re going to fight and we’re going to continue to save Taquisha’s life,” Atuahene said. “She’s a wonderful, wonderful woman. She’s a mother, she’s a daughter, she’s a cousin, she’s a sister, she’s an auntie. She is loved by so many people.”

The injunction will remain in effect until the family’s next court date on Oct. 17 or 18.


Related:

Family files injunction after doctors declare Brampton woman dead


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