Beaumont Hospital has agreed to allow two surgeries on a 16-year-old patient that the hospital previously declared brain dead.
Beaumont Hospital declared Titus Cromer dead on October 24, after he suffered a brain injury. The hospital planned to take the boy off life support, but Cromer's mother sued, first in Oakland County Circuit Court, and later, in federal court.
Two doctors not affiliated with Beaumont say the boy is not brain dead and needs a tracheostomy and feeding tube before transfer to another facility.
Beaumont initially argued the surgeries are unethical, but it's now agreed to do them, or allow outside surgeons to do them.
The mother hasn't found a facility yet willing to take Cromer.
The judge's order indicates Beaumont may be permitted to remove life support after January 20, if no facility is found by then and if the boy also can't be transferred to his home.
The case is similar to one involving a 14-year-old boy who was declared brain dead after being admitted to Mott Children's hospital in September.
That family also sued, but a judge said the hospital could remove life support after the family was unable to locate a facility that would accept him.
