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Clinton woman moved to Davenport hospital; guardianship feud continues

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By Steven Martens | Wednesday, August 30, 2006 12:51 AM CDT | () comments

A Clinton, Iowa, woman whose religious beliefs and their impact on her potential medical care sparked a legal battle between her husband and her family is recovering in a Davenport hospital as the court proceedings continue.

Tawnya Nissen, 28, was in fair condition Tuesday at Genesis Medical Center-West Central Park.

She came out of her medically induced coma last week and requested the transfer, said Frank Santiago, attorney for her husband, Chris Nissen. She was moved late last week.

Her father, Richard T. Reid, sought and won temporary custody of his daughter shortly after she was taken to University Hospitals on Aug. 4 for treatment of a reaction to diet pills. Reid and other members of the family became concerned after learning that Chris Nissen would not allow his wife to have a blood transfusion if one were needed, citing their beliefs as Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Her family argued that she has not been baptized as a Jehovah’s Witness.

Johnson County District Judge Marsha Beckelman ruled it was impossible to determine what Tawnya Nissen’s wishes were while she was in the coma and granted guardianship to her father until she recovered enough to make her own decision.

Santiago said that now that she is out of the coma, the issue of guardianship is moot.

Santiago filed an appeal of the decision Monday, saying Tawnya’s husband was in the best position to know what his wife’s wishes are. Santiago said Tuesday that Tawnya Nissen was recovering.

“She’s conscious now,” he said. “She’s able to make her own decision.”

Steven Martens can be contacted at (563) 659-2595 or smartens@qctimes.com.