A heartbroken Texas family has taken legal action to prevent a hospital from declaring their two-year-old daughter brain dead after she was found unconscious at the bottom of a hotel swimming pool. Annelise Camp was celebrating Memorial Day on May 25 in Houston with her family when she wandered into the pool after removing her life jacket, according to her father, Johnston Camp.
Her older cousin pulled her out of the water as family members rushed over and immediately began performing CPR before first responders arrived. It took nearly an hour for Annelise's heartbeat to return, and since then, she has been receiving treatment at Texas Children's Hospital, her father said.
The family became alarmed after a doctor recommended declaring the toddler brain dead just two days after her admission. 'If there's a one percent chance or that five percent chance of results, we're going to take it,' the distraught father told FOX 26.
On Friday, the Camp family obtained a temporary restraining order blocking the hospital from making that determination, as they want her to continue receiving necessary care. Court documents reviewed by the Daily Mail show that the family and hospital have agreed to allow brain death testing to continue pending a June 11 hearing.
'If she would've been declared brain dead, it could've greatly limited her ability to receive treatment moving forward,' Johnston told KTRK. He emphasized that hospital staff have 'been wonderful,' but the legal system imposes 'certain restraints' on the family.
Johnston noted improvements in his daughter's condition and wants to allow further recovery. 'With all these positive results, you can't cut her lifeline off four or five days into it and prevent her from additional treatments,' he stated.
According to court documents, the hospital has also agreed to work on transferring Annelise to another medical facility that can provide more treatment options. Brain death testing is set to begin on Friday or as soon as possible.
Dr. Heidi Russell, a medical ethics expert with Rice University's Baker Institute, told FOX 26 that such legal disputes arise because families and doctors view cases from different perspectives. 'The family has not had much time to grieve and process. So there is, I can imagine, a tremendous amount of hope remaining in them that if given a little bit more time, maybe the outcome will be different,' Russell explained.
When it comes to brain death decisions, more than one physician is typically involved. Doctors often consult with multiple medical professionals, attorneys, leadership, and medical ethics experts to determine the best course of action. Courts get involved when families disagree with treatment options and want more time for the patient.
A spokesperson for Texas Children's Hospital acknowledged the case, stating: 'Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with the family and their loved ones. Our expert and dedicated clinical team is exhausting all medically viable options and we continue to work hard to honor the family's wishes during this difficult time. Out of respect for their privacy, we are unable to comment further.'
Since the near-fatal drowning accident, two online fundraisers have been launched to support the family. A GoFundMe page states that Annelise is 'fighting for her life in the PICU' and that her loved ones are 'holding onto hope and prayerfully believing for a complete miracle of healing and restoration.' A GiveSendGo page was also created to raise funds, noting that 'the road ahead is long and uncertain, with extensive medical care, therapies, and support required for her healing.'
