A JUDGE ruled that a hospital could not turn off a ventilator used to keep a Covid-19 patient alive.

Scott Quiner was originally a patient at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, Minnesota before being moved to another facility in Texas over the weekend. 

The move came after a judge issued a restraining order to stop Mercy Hospital from removing Quiner from his ventilator.

“Scott is now in a hospital in Texas getting critical care,” said Majorie Holsten, an attorney for the Quiner family. 

“The doctor said Scott was the most undernourished patient he has ever seen. The last update I got was yesterday afternoon after some tests had been run; all organs are working except his lungs.”

A statement was issued by Allina Health, which operates Mercy Hospital, saying that it is grateful the family was able to find a health care facility to help with their needs.

“We continue to wish them all the best,” read the statement.

Mercy Hospital announced last week that it would disconnect the ventilator after Quiner, who is unvaccinated, had shown little signs of improvement since his arrival at the intensive care unit on November 6.

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Quiner’s case drew much attention and his wife, Anne, went to court to seek an emergency restraining order to stop the hospital from pulling the plug.

In her petition to the court, Anne wrote that without a judge’s decision, “my husband will die.”

“This is a life-saving thing,” said Holsten. “It is going to be critical.”

The family has said pubically that the hospital would not treat Quiner with certain drugs, nor would they try other measures to save his life

Anoka County Judge Jennifer Stanfield ruled in favor of Anne Quiner and a hearing will be held virtually on February 11.

After Quiner was transferred to Texas, he has apparently begun to improve while still on his ventilator and has been provided extra nutrients. 

“I think the world is watching what is going on with Scott,” said Holsten. “And as he gets better and better, we are going to see that you know what, there are protocols that should be used that hospitals have not been using.”

Holsten said she hopes that changes are going to be made as a result of the case.

Vaccine effectiveness & Omicron

Expert studies have shown that the risk of severe illness from Covid-19 is reduced by 90 percent or more among people who are fully vaccinated.

While there are breakthrough cases of Covid among people who are vaccinated, they are rare.

In the event of a breakthrough case, victims are highly unlikely to be hospitalized with severe or deadly symptoms from the virus.

Health officials have advised that the Omicron variant is more infectious and could lead to further breakthrough cases.

Yet the spread can be offset by all vaccinated Americans receiving a booster shot.

Current vaccines are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths due to infection with the Omicron variant.

With other variants, like Delta, vaccines have remained effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death.

Studies have also shown that side effects from the vaccine are extremely rare.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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