Life for Lauren

In Delaware, there is a fight over the life of a 23-year-old woman who has been diagnosed to be in a persistent vegetative state. According to news reports, Lauren's brain was denied oxygen after she overdosed on heroin in August 2006. She was 3 months pregnant at the time. Doctors kept her on life support so she could deliver the baby and since then, Lauren has recovered enough to no longer need a respirator or additional life support.

Like Terri Schiavo, what Lauren does have is a feeding tube-- which is standard when someone has been placed on a respirator. And like Terri, there is a fight over her right to life. According to news reports, Lauren's mother wants to have Lauren's feeding tube removed. This would be a death sentence for Lauren-- she would die from dehydration within two weeks.

Lauren's family released a video showing her interacting with family members. Her father is trying to gain custody so he can prevent his daughter from dying.

For more information, visit www.lifeforlauren.org