Orange County Family Says Hospital Wants To Pull The Plug On Woman

ANAHEIM (CBSLA.com) — An Orange County family is angry and outraged, claiming that a hospital is pushing them to remove a mother of seven, who is in critical condition, from life support equipment. It's the same hospital they claim that botched her treatment and put her on life support.

"For them to push the family to do that is just unspeakable," said Lisa Avila's aunt, Jessica Jule. "They shouldn't be pressuring us, because the reason we're here, is because of their mistake."

Avila's family got a letter during an unexpected meeting with hospital personnel. It shows Avila's name filled in at the top and describes her as brain dead. It goes on to explain that she will be taken off the ventilator "no later" than this Friday.

Avila came to Anaheim Regional Medical Center a month ago while pregnant with her eighth child. Her family says the hospital sent her home, and within a day she slipped into a coma due to a a tubal pregnancy.

Now Avila is still on life support, though her family feels she's making progress.

Avila's cousins and aunt want to move her to another care facility, and for the Anaheim hospital to pay for it. But they say Avila must show she's stable without meds for three days, which reaches beyond Friday's deadline.

"Pretty much they're trying to kill her to reduce them from having to pay the bill that it would cost to keep her alive," said Avila's cousin, Yvette Townsend.

The hospital provided the following statement: "The physicians, nurses and staff at Anaheim Regional Medical Center are committed to providing the highest quality care to every patient who comes to our hospital. This is a very difficult situation.

"We extend our deepest, heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of the patient. They remain in our thoughts and prayers. Patient privacy laws prevent us from sharing any additional information."

Avila's family said they won't leave her side until this gets figured out. They have set up a page to tell her story at http://lisaavilachavez.weebly.com/

"I won't let them remove her off that machine, there's no way," Jule said.