Court Opinion

ID: 9660379
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 22:12:03.016965+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:18.890974
License: Public Domain

Wright, J.,
concurring.
I concur in the result, but I write separately to point out the procedure that I believe is required by the Department of Social Services (DSS).
The issue presented is whether DSS, which has temporary custody of the minor, can request that life support be withdrawn from the minor and that the minor not be resuscitated. Such a request necessarily requires as a first prerequisite that all rights of the parents to the child be terminated.
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-292 (Reissue 1993) provides that the court may terminate all parental rights between the parents and the juvenile when the court finds such action to be in the best interests of the juvenile and one or more of the following conditions exist: “(2) The parents have substantially and continuously or repeatedly neglected the juvenile ... (6) Following a determination that the juvenile is one as described in subdivision (3)(a) of section 43-247, reasonable efforts, under the direction of the court, have failed to correct the conditions leading to the determination . .. .”
In my opinion, there are factual situations in which only one act by a parent is sufficient to provide the basis for termination under § 43-292. Parental conduct which results in serious and permanent injury to the juvenile does not have to be continuous or repeated under § 43-292(2), nor would efforts to correct the condition be required under § 43-292(6) before the court could proceed with termination. An act by the parent or parents which causes severe and permanent injury to the juvenile is enough to permit the court to terminate all parental rights between the parents and the juvenile under § 43-292.
In appeals from the termination of parental rights in a county court sitting as a juvenile court, an appellate court reviews such *698cases de novo on the record. See In re Interest of D.W., 249 Neb. 133, 542 N.W.2d 407 (1996). An order terminating parental rights must be based upon clear and convincing evidence and should be issued as a last resort when no reasonable alternative exists. DSS’ request will have a permanent result, and until parental rights have been terminated, DSS does not have the right to request a court order which would permit medical support personnel to withdraw life support and medical treatment being given to the minor child in question.