Jahi McMath Case
McMath (Winkfield) Family
The McMath-Winkfield family are the parents/guardians of Jahi McMath. They are the people suing the Hospital and Doctor.
Frederick Rosen
Paul G. Fisher
Children's Hospital Oakland
Frederick Rosen is the Doctor that the family is suing for malpractice.
Paul G. Fisher is the chief of Child Neurology at Stanford Medical. The judge appointed Fisher to provide an independent opinion regarding Jahi's neurological function.
The McMath/Winkfield are petitioning the hospital to keep Jahi on life support and to revoke the death certificate.
The family argues that Jahi is still alive according to their religious beliefs. They want Jahi to continue to be on life support and to receive additional medical attention.
Dr. Rosen argues that Jahi's death was irreversible and that there is no proof of negligence .
Gain:Dr. Rosen has nothing to gain from this situation. He is being sued for malpractice.
Dr. Fisher declared Jahi McMath to be brain-dead after finding no neurological activity.
Under California law Jahi McMath is considered brain-dead. She has shown no signs of neurological life.
Gain: The family would gain money from suing the doctor and the hospital. They would also get to keep their daughter on life-support and get the death certification revoked.
Gain: Dr. Fisher could potentially help give a conclusion to the McMath case.
Gain: The hospital doesn't necessarily gain anything from being sued by the family, however, once it is all over hopefully California law will change so events like this have a set of guidelines.
Lose: The family would lose Jahi. She would be taken off life support and be officially declared dead once the ventilators stopped her breathing.
Lose: Dr. Rosen has the potential to lose his medical career.
Lose: Dr. Fisher could lose credibility in the eyes of those who support Jahi. This controversy is two-sided. Those that believe she is alive and those that don't.
Lose: The hospital could lose money and could also lose credibility with the people. A major hospital is undergoing a serious medical accusation.
Bias: Jahi is part of the family. They want/need her to be alive so despite medical evidence they will do everything and anything to keep her with them.
Bias: Dr. Rosen is being tried for malpractice. He has everything on the line therefore he is going to argue that he didn't do anything wrong and that Jahi is dead.
Bias: Dr. Fisher has pressure on him to make the right medical decision. If he ruled that Jahi is in fact alive then he would be going against fellow doctors and peers.
Bias: According to medical results Jahi is in fact dead, and the hospital is going to end it quickly as possible so that they can continue on. That is why they consented for Jahi to be moved to Jersey.