Attorneys: Brain-dead woman's fetus 'abnormal'

1/22/2014

DALLAS — Attorneys for the husband of a pregnant, brain-dead Texas woman being kept on life support say the fetus inside of her is “distinctly abnormal.”

Erick Munoz’s attorneys said in a statement today that the fetus that Marlise Munoz is carrying has several “abnormalities,” including a deformation of the lower body parts that make it impossible to determine its gender.

Attorneys Heather King and Jessica Hall Janicek say they’re basing their statement on medical records received from John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. The hospital is keeping Marlise Munoz on life support against her husband’s wishes. Erick Munoz has sued the hospital.

The hospital says it’s following state law that says pregnant patients cannot be denied life-saving treatment.

Marlise Munoz was found unconscious in November, possibly from a blood clot.