© FacebookBitter battle: Grace Sung Eun Lee, centre, is on breathing tubes following a seizure from a brain tumour, but her parents will not allow her to be removed from the tubes
Grace Sung Eun Lee even managed to vocalise her wishes, telling her parents and the doctors tending to her: 'I want to die.'
But because the 28-year-old's parents are deeply religious and belong to a Korean Christian church in Queens, they believe that allowing her daughter to choose death over life is a sin.
The rift in beliefs has led to an agonising legal battle for the family.
© FacebookHappier times: Grace, centre, pictured with her parents Manho Lee, left, and Jin-ah Lee, right; her father is a pastor at a Flushing, Queens church
Her daughter is currently at Long Island North Shore Hospital, hooked up to breathing tubes that are keeping her alive. She is paralysed from the neck down due to the tumour on her brain stem.
Ms Lee's father is Antioch Missionary Church reverend Manho Lee, and practices out of his church in the Flushing neighbourhood of Queens. His congregation has flocked behind him to pray for Ms Lee and tell her of God's plans for her life.
The sin of suicide, they said, would condemn their daughter's soul to hell.
© FacebookSmiling: Ms Lee had worked as a manager at Bank of America and lived in Manhattan
Speaking on behalf of Ms Lee, Dr Dana Lustbader testified that the patient 'consistently asks that her breathing tube be removed.'
However, Rev Lee and his wife argued that their daughter is heavily medicated, and is not lucid enough to make the life-or-death decision.
Doctors said that her medications, including morphine and an anti-anxiety medication, are not strong enough to cloud her judgment.
Ms Lee's troubles began last year. Before her illness, she worked as a manager for Bank of America, living and working in Manhattan.
She was also training for the famous New York City marathon.
© FacebookOffering support: Members of the congregation in Ms Lee's room, praying for her to be healed
Though she received chemotherapy and radiation, the treatments did not successfully target the tumour, and last month, she had a seizure that eventually left her paralysed.
Ms Lee had apparently talked to nurses at North Shore about removing the tubes, but her parents interceded.
A Facebook page entitled Save Grace SungEun Lee cites a passage from the Old Testament, which reads: '"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."'
A post from Tuesday reads: 'We can see God's powers working every day and know that God has a plan for her too!'
Children from the congregation have written notes of encouragement for the 28-year-old, with one writing: 'I hope you feel better. I miss you, Grace Teacher.'
© FacebookWords of love: Young members of the church offered kind words to Ms Lee, calling her 'Grace Teacher,' and pleading with her to come back soon
'The role of religion in medial decision making really pertains to the patient,' Tia Powell, M.D., the director of Montefiore Einstein Center for Bioethics, told MailOnline.
'If the patient is capable of making her decisions, then that's where we would honour.'
Dr Powell added that while it may be heart-wrenching for the parents to face, she said the goal of bioethics is to bring the families together. 'The question is not whether she's going to die, it's how she's going to die.
'There's nothing worse than losing a child,' she said, 'but there are limits to medical treatment. There are many things we cannot fix, we cannot perform miracles.'
Dr Powell said that there are some practices that could help Ms Lee's parents come to terms with their daughter's illness. 'These are religious people, and they know we are all mortal,' she said. 'Being clear about that can maybe help decrease their suffering.'
Reader Comments
The story should have wide appeal in the US, since many here share similar religious beliefs.
The criminals who want to make euthanasia legal have a materialistic agenda in mind.
Others could support it on the grounds that it's a point of spiritual freedom and self-determinism.
But of course if she were really self-determined, she could leave anyway and nobody could stop her. So I am suspicious of the pro-euthanasia argument, even though it seems sensible to me.
Under these circumstances, I would allow her to leave. She won't go to heaven. Unless you define "heaven" as getting born into a new body. I wish people could be sensible with each other about these things. How long must all this misinformation about death persist?
But if her family really wants to help her, they need stronger technology than prayer. There are many assists for illness available that could probably help this woman quite a bit.
Really? Did you bother to actually read the article?
"She is paralyzed from the neck down due to the tumor on her brain stem."
She's a 28 year old adult, seems to be mentally capable of making sound decisions concerning her welfare. Instead of being selfish, her parents should honor her wishes to let her go.