A pregnant woman who collapsed after an embolism is being kept alive against her own and her family's wishes to incubate her unborn foetus.
"The foetus is distinctly abnormal. Even at this early stage, the lower extremities are deformed to the extent that the gender cannot be determined"
Now, her loved ones have received devastating news about the condition of the baby.
Against her husband and parents' wishes – and wishes they say she made clear to them – Marlise Munoz was kept on life support when she collapsed in late November at her home.
She was without pulse and oxygen for almost an hour but, due to a law in Texas (and at least 30 other states) that prevents the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from a pregnant patient, the hospital refused to remove Marlise from life support.
All of this had been done in a bid to save her unborn foetus, but now a statement has been released by the law firm representing Marlise's husband Erick Munoz in his suit against the hospital.
Citing new medical records, it has revealed the condition of the unborn child is "distinctly abnormal":
"According to the medical records we have been provided, the foetus is distinctly abnormal. Even at this early stage, the lower extremities are deformed to the extent that the gender cannot be determined."
"The foetus suffers from hydrocephalus [also known as 'water on the brain']. It also appears that there are further abnormalities, including a possible heart problem, that cannot be specifically determined due to the immobile nature of Mrs. Munoz's deceased body."
The statement continued: "Quite sadly, this information is not surprising due to the fact that the foetus, after being deprived of oxygen for an indeterminate length of time, is gestating within a dead and deteriorating body, as a horrified family looks on in absolute anguish, distress and sadness.
"We reiterate, our client's position is that the statute prohibiting the withholding of life sustaining measures from a pregnant patient does not apply to the dead."
The unborn foetus is approximately at 21 weeks gestation.
A hearing on the controversial case has been scheduled for later this week, where it will be decided if life support should continue or not.