Maria Korp breathing unaided

According to an article in the Australian newspaper, The Age, Maria Korp may now be breathing unaided. Reports cannot be confirmed through the hospital because of patient privacy, but according to Peter Ward, Joe Korp's lawyer, she is off the tracheotomy tube and is no longer receiving any assistance with breathing, oxygen or keeping her windpipe open. This is a small but significant improvement in her condition, taking place after the 3-month cutoff when according to Australian law her condition can be declared permanent.

[Update: According to this Australian Herald Sun article, the procedure to remove her breathing assistance was done knowing that she had only a 50% chance of survival if the surgery was done. As things look now, it appears she is pulling through this test and is not expected to die any time soon.]


Maria Korp is an Australian mother of two who survived attempted murder and was found several days after being left for dead in the trunk of her car. Her husband, Joe Korp, who maintains his innocence, and his girlfriend Tania Herman will be standing trial for her murder or attempted murder, depending on whether she continues to live or not. Doctors say she is in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) after non-traumatic brain injury (strangulation).

Her injury took place the middle of February, and the court-appointed guardian is still contemplating whether to remove life-sustaining treament or not. As mentioned in one of my earlier posts, some physicians are arguing that treatment should nto be withdrawn until at least 12 months after her injury since late improvement from a PVS does occasionally happen.