Critics try to undo futile care law

Legislation pushed by Texas Right to Life requires life-sustaining treatment to continue for patients deemed futile by doctors until a transfer to another medical facility can be arranged, if their family requests it. Currently, hospitals can stop life support treatment after 10 days in certain cases if the patient is terminally or irreversibly ill and cannot express his or her wishes about treatment. "No other state in the country has a law that Draconian," said Rep. Bryan Hughes, a Mineola Republican. "The balance of power is completely shifted against the patients and the families." Houston Chronicle