Life Support Extended for ‘Brain-Dead’ Girl

Jahi McMath, 13, will be kept on a ventilator until Jan. 7 after ruling by California judge

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McMath Family / AP

Jahi McMath

A 13-year-old girl declared brain-dead by doctors has had her life support extended until Jan. 7 after a ruling by a California judge.

Jahi McMath will be kept on a ventilator past the 5 p.m. Monday cutoff that was set in a previous ruling, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Evelio Grillo ordered late on Monday. Her family has been campaigning to have her treatment continued.

The eighth-grader was apparently recovering well from an operation to remove her tonsils, adenoids and extra sinus tissue earlier this month when she began bleeding heavily and went into cardiac arrest, claim family members. She was declared brain-dead days later.

The surgery was to treat pediatric obstructive sleep apnea, which made her stop breathing in her sleep, among other problems. The hospital has refused to discuss any details of her case for legal reasons.

[AP]