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Keywords

hearingprobatedue process

hearingtrialprobatedeclaratory judgment

Related Cases

Matter of Conservatorship of Torres, 357 N.W.2d 332

Facts

Rudolfo Torres, age 57, suffered severe injuries from a fall and was placed on life support after being found in cardiopulmonary arrest due to a restraining device. After months of being comatose with no chance of recovery, a conservator was appointed to represent his interests. A hearing was held where medical evidence indicated that maintaining life support would not benefit Torres, leading to the court's decision to authorize the removal of the respirator.

Rudolfo Torres has been comatose and dependent on life support systems since July 14, 1983. A conservator was appointed for Mr. Torres and on March 9, 1984, a hearing was held before the Hennepin County Probate Court to determine the appropriate level of medical care for Mr. Torres.

Issue

1. Does the court have the authority to order discontinuance of medical life support procedures when death may result from that discontinuance? 2. Was the order of the probate court clearly erroneous in light of the evidence before it?

Rule

The probate courts of Minnesota have the power to order the termination of life support systems based on constitutional and statutory authority, provided it serves the best interests of the conservatee.

1. The probate courts of Minnesota, by reason of both constitutional and statutory authority, have the power to order the termination of life support systems. 2. The order of termination in this case was not clearly erroneous.

Analysis

The court determined that the conservator had the authority to order the removal of life support systems, as the evidence indicated that maintaining such treatment would not serve Torres' best interests. The court considered the medical opinions presented, which unanimously supported the removal of life support due to the irreversible nature of Torres' condition. The court also found that the due process rights of Torres were not violated, as a full evidentiary hearing was conducted with all interests represented.

The trial court based its order, in part, on its power to grant declaratory relief. The Minnesota Legislature enacted Minnesota's Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act, Minn.Stat. § 555.01 et seq. (1982) 'to afford relief from uncertainty and insecurity with respect to rights, status and other legal relations * * *.'

Conclusion

The Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's decision, concluding that the conservator was authorized to order the removal of life support systems and that the order was not clearly erroneous.

We hold under the facts in this case that a court order was necessary, that the conservator had the right to issue his substituted judgment for that of the comatose conservatee, and that the court's order permitting the removal of Mr. Torres' respirator was not clearly erroneous.

Who won?

The County and conservator prevailed in the case, as the court upheld the decision to remove life support based on the determination that it was in Torres' best interests.

The court did not clearly err in determining that conservatee's best interests would be served by the order of termination.

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