Family of Terminally Ill Ann Arbor Boy Challenging School District’s End-of-life Policy

Willy Pickett was given just two years to live when he was diagnosed with a rare brain disorder as an infant. While the 11-year-old Ann Arbor boy has outlived the predictions, Willy’s declining health prompted his parents to make an end-of-life plan for him a few years ago. But if Willy’s heart stops beating, employees at his Ann Arbor-area school are policy-bound to save him even if it goes against the explicit wishes of the family. This prompted the parents of the terminally ill child to file a lawsuit against the Washtenaw Intermediate School District earlier this month. The lawsuit is an attempt to get the WISD to honor the order and deem the policy unconstitutional. MORE