Spiro Nikolouzos
Encyclopedia
Spiro Nikolouzos was a Texas
man incapacitated from bleeding related to a cerebral shunt
, whose care was the subject of an appeal of The Texas Futile Care Law.
Nikolouzos was hospitalized on February 10, 2005 at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital
, Houston, Texas
, and was in a persistent vegetative state
. He was fed through a gastric feeding tube and respirated by a ventilator. The hospital
wished to discontinue life support
, allowing Nikolouzos to die. His family opposed this action and claimed the hospital's decision was related to the fact that Nikolouzos's Medicare
funding was running out, a contention denied by the hospital.
Under the 1999 Advance Directives Act
(also known as The Texas Futile Care Law), the hospital may override the family's wishes in such a matter should an ethics committee clear such an action. However, Nikolouzos's family won an emergency injunction
preventing the removal of the life support apparatus, and on March 21, 2005, Spiro Nikolouzos was removed to Avalon Place Nursing Home
in San Antonio, Texas
. Avalon Place had rejected his application nine days earlier.
Nikolouzos subsequently died at Avalon on May 30, 2005.
The precedent set by the case of Sun Hudson may have helped to expedite the removal of Nikolouzos from artificial respiration prior to the move.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
man incapacitated from bleeding related to a cerebral shunt
Cerebral shunt
Cerebral shunts are commonly used to treat hydrocephalus, the swelling of the brain due to excess buildup of cerebrospinal fluid . If left unchecked, the cerebral spinal fluid can build up leading to an increase in intracranial pressure which can lead to intracranial hematoma, cerebral edema,...
, whose care was the subject of an appeal of The Texas Futile Care Law.
Nikolouzos was hospitalized on February 10, 2005 at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital
St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital
St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital serves as the lead hospital for St. Luke's Episcopal Health System, and is based at the Texas Medical Center in Houston. St. Luke's Episcopal Health System also includes St. Luke's Episcopal Health Charities, St. Luke's The Woodlands Hospital, St. Luke's Sugar Land...
, Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, and was in a persistent vegetative state
Persistent vegetative state
A persistent vegetative state is a disorder of consciousness in which patients with severe brain damage are in a state of partial arousal rather than true awareness. It is a diagnosis of some uncertainty in that it deals with a syndrome. After four weeks in a vegetative state , the patient is...
. He was fed through a gastric feeding tube and respirated by a ventilator. The hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
wished to discontinue life support
Life support
Life support, in medicine is a broad term that applies to any therapy used to sustain a patient's life while they are critically ill or injured. There are many therapies and techniques that may be used by clinicians to achieve the goal of sustaining life...
, allowing Nikolouzos to die. His family opposed this action and claimed the hospital's decision was related to the fact that Nikolouzos's Medicare
Medicare (United States)
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
funding was running out, a contention denied by the hospital.
Under the 1999 Advance Directives Act
Advance Directives Act
The Texas Advance Directives Act , also known as the Texas Futile Care Law, describes certain provisions that are now Chapter 166 of the Texas Health & Safety Code...
(also known as The Texas Futile Care Law), the hospital may override the family's wishes in such a matter should an ethics committee clear such an action. However, Nikolouzos's family won an emergency injunction
Injunction
An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a court order that requires a party to do or refrain from doing certain acts. A party that fails to comply with an injunction faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
preventing the removal of the life support apparatus, and on March 21, 2005, Spiro Nikolouzos was removed to Avalon Place Nursing Home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. Avalon Place had rejected his application nine days earlier.
Nikolouzos subsequently died at Avalon on May 30, 2005.
The precedent set by the case of Sun Hudson may have helped to expedite the removal of Nikolouzos from artificial respiration prior to the move.
Sources
- Houston Chronicle article detailing Mr. Nikolouzos's move to Avalon Place
- MSNBC article providing background information on Mr. Nikolouzos's condition and his family's emergency injunction
- First Houston Chronicle article detailing Mr. Nikolouzos's family's injunction and the precedent of Sun Hudson
- Second Houston Chronicle article detailing Mr. Nikolouzos's family's injunction and the precedent of Sun Hudson