Challenging the Surrogate - Daniel Sanger Hearing on Nov. 2

Maryland resident Daniel Sanger has been hospitalized since suffering brain damage after a heart attack in July. For the past month, he has been at Frederick Memorial Hospital, where he receives food and water intravenously.  A week ago today, hospital staff members removed his feeding tube with the permission of Sanger's wife, Leta Sanger.  (Frederick News-Post)

But Daniel Sanger's mother and brother challenged that decision.  Phyllis Sanger filed a motion for an emergency injunction, asking for the tube to remain and for her and son Mark Sanger to be granted temporary custody.  On Wednesday, Chief Judge Peter Krauser of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals ordered the tube be restored pending the outcome of Thursday's hearing.  (TRO Order from ADF)  The matter will return to Circuit Court on Wednesday, Nov. 2, when a preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled.

At the heart of the dispute lies Phyllis Sanger's claim that Daniel Sanger told her that he wanted to live.  But Leta Sanger takes issue with that claim and said her husband has never made a similar statement to her.  She said Daniel Sanger told her when his father was in a similar situation before his death that he wouldn't want to live in such a condition.