School will not honor 'do not resuscitate' request for terminally ill boy

ATHENS, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama woman with a terminally ill son says he hasn't returned to school because of a dispute with school officials over how he might die.

Rene Hoover of Athens says she'd like to take 14-year-old Alex back to school but won't because officials won't honor her wish for staff not to resuscitate him after a medical emergency.

Alex has a heart condition and is autistic. Hoover says reviving him is unlikely to improve his prognosis and she doesn't want him to face additional medical procedures.

Advance directives and do-not-resuscitate orders in Alabama cover people 19 and older. A state representative says he's considering legislation to expand the plans to minors.

Hoover says she wants Alex to go back to school to continue social development as his health deteriorates.