Posted on 04/07/2005 2:59:57 AM PDT by schmelvin
For Immediate release! To: All media, and supporters of life. From: The Family of Mae Magouirk Date: April 6, 2005 Contact: Kenneth Mullinax - Mockingbird@compuhelp.net
Shiavo case revisited in Georgia
Mae Magouirk…not comatose …not vegetative …not terminal
Why is Hospice LaGrange, Ga. withholding nourishment?
(LaGrange, Georgia) Mae Magouirk is being withheld nourishment and fluids and the provisions of her Living Will are not being honored at the Hospice-LaGrange, (1510 Vernon Street, LaGrange “Troup County” Georgia, 706-845-3905) a subsidiary of the LaGrange Hospital in LaGrange Georgia. Her family is desperately seeking to save her life before she dies of malnourishment and dehydration.
Mae Magouirk IS NOT comatose and she IS NOT vegetative. She is not terminal!
Despite these facts the Hospice and Beth Gaddy, a school teacher at LaGrange’s Calloway Middle School and granddaughter of Mae Magouirk have been denying her proactive nourishment or fluids (via a nose administered feeding tube or fluids via an IV) since March 28 without prior legal consent; against the wishes of her Living Will and against the wishes of Mae Magouirk’s closest living next of kin. Mae Magouirk’s next of kin are: Mr. A. B. McLeod (Her Brother) and Mrs. Lonnie Ruth Mullinax (Her sister) both of nearby Anniston, Alabama.
Under Georgia law, unless a medical durable power of attorney is in place, your closest living next of kin are stipulated to make all medical decisions. When Mae Magouirk’s closest living next of kin lodged a complaint with Hospice LaGrange’s in-house attorney Carol Todd last Thursday, March 31, Ms. Todd checked Mae Magouirk’s case file and upon examination of both documents discovered that Beth Gaddy DID NOT have the durable medical power of attorney for Mae Magouirk and upon closer examination of Mae Magouirk’s Living Will ascertained that fluids and nourishment were ONLY TO BE WITHHELD if she was either comatose or vegetative. SHE IS IN NEITHER STATE!!!
Nor is Mae Magouirk terminally ill. Her local LaGrange, Ga. cardiologist, Dr. James Brennan and Dr. Raed Aqel, a highly acclaimed interventional cardiologist at the nationally renowned University of Alabama-Birmingham Medical Center have determined that Mae Magouirk’s aortic dissection is contained and not presently life threatening.
Two weeks ago, Mae Magouirk’s aorta had a dissection and she was hospitalized in the LaGrange Hospital in LaGrange, Ga. Her aortic problem was at first determined to be severe and she was admitted in the intensive care Unit. Her granddaughter, Beth Gaddy, a teacher at the Calloway Middle School in LaGrange, stated that she held Mae Magouirk’s medical power of attorney and thus invoked said powers against the wishes of Mae Magouirk’s closest living next of kin by having her moved to Hospice-LaGrange. While at Hospice-LaGrange, Beth Gaddy stated that her wishes were for no nourishment for Mae Magouirk via a feeding tube or fluids via an IV. Before hospitalization Mae was lucid and never had been diagnosed with dementia as was testified to in Probate Court on Monday, April 4, by a local MD.
Page Two Mae Magouirk is being starved to death!
Upon learning from Hospice-LaGrange that Mae Magouirk was being denied nourishment and fluids and upon being told by Carol Todd (Hospice LaGrange’s in-house legal consul) that Beth Gaddy DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER LEGAL AUTHORITY to deny said nourishment AND that the denial of nourishment went against Mae Magouirk’s Living Will, Mae’s family (Mullinax/McLeod) ordered the immediate beginning of such nourishment/fluids for Mae to Hospice via Carol Todd.
First Contact with Hospice on Thursday, March 31 Carol Todd told Mrs. Lonnie Ruth Mullinax (Mae Magouirk’s sister) and Kenneth Mullinax (Mae Magouirk’s nephew) via phone on Thursday, March 31 that Georgia Law stipulated that Mrs. Mullinax and her brother A. B. McLeod (Mae Magouirk’s brother) were entitled to make any and all decisions for Mae Magouirk. Mrs. Mullinax immediately told Carol Todd to insert fluids via an IV and insert a feeding tube, via her nose. Carol Todd had the IV fluids started that evening but told the family that they would have to come to Hospice LaGrange to sign papers to have the feeding tube inserted and because of such, she believed that Mae Magouirk would no longer be a candidate for Hospice LaGrange. She was then told that Mae Magouirk’s family concurred and the ONLY REASON Mae was at Hospice was because the LaGrange Hospital had failed to exercise due diligence in closely examining the power of attorney which Beth Gaddy said she had, as well as executing the provisions of Mae’s Living Will to her preordained stipulations. Gaddy only had a financial power of attorney and did not have a medical power of attorney and Mae Magouirk’s Living Will provided that a feeding tube and fluids SHOULD ONLY BE DISSCONTINUED IF Mae was comatose or in a vegetative state. She was and is in neither state.
Attempt to rescue Mae on Friday denied by Probate Judge Donald Boyd On Friday, April 1, when A. B. McLeod (brother) and Kenneth Mullinax (nephew) showed up to meet with Carol Todd and to arrange emergency air transport of Mae Magouirk to the University of Alabama-Birmingham Medical Center (One of the top cardiovascular centers in the USA) Hospice LaGrange stalled them while Beth Gaddy went before Troup County Georgia (LaGrange, Ga.) Probate Judge Donald W. Boyd (who DOES NOT hold a law degree) who granted Beth Gaddy emergency guardianship of Mae Magouirk, giving Beth Gaddy full and absolute authority. Thus, they COULD NOT MOVE HER FOR PROACTIVE MEDICAL CARE Friday because Beth Gaddy had Hospice stop them and then she had Mae’s IV fluid tube pulled out. Beth Gaddy has repeatedly told Mr. McLeod, Mrs. Mullinax and Kenneth Mullinax that she feels they all should let Mae not eat and thus cause her to die because, and we quote Beth Gaddy: “Grandmamma is old and I think it is time she went home to Jesus. She has glaucoma, and now this heart problem and who would want to live with disabilities like these?”
As stipulated under Georgia Law, a hearing for an Emergency Guardianship, must be held within 3 days of its request and Mae Magouirk’s hearing was held on this past Monday, April 4, before Troup County Georgia Probate Judge Donald Boyd who favors granting Beth Gaddy permanent guardianship and thus will seal Mae Magouirk’s fate of allowing Beth Gaddy to starve her to death against the wishes of her Living Will and in full knowledge that Mae Magouirk is not terminal, not in a coma and is not in a vegetative state and that medical care at UAB Medical Center is awaiting her. Shiavo revisited!
Mae’s present state and vital signs Mae’s blood pressure is good, averaging 140/82 with a pulse rate of 88. However, since admission to Hospice she has not been lucid but who would be since nourishment and fluids have been denied since March 28, 2005. Also adding to her confusion is that she is off her regular medicines and is on a dose of Adavan and Morphine. Without food or water her electrolytes and body chemistry is not within its proper parameters. If her condition is not given major public attention soon, she will die, not by divine cause but by the omission of assistance by man. WE MUST GET Mae moved to UAB Medical ASAP
Resources: Probate Judge Donald Boyd…Court CASE NUMBER: Estate 138-05 Attorney for saving Mae’s life: Jack Kirby, Kirby & Roberts***
GREAT!
http://www.georgia.gov/00/channel_title/0,2094,4802_5005,00.html
These may help, I plan to contact them tomorrow morning.
Ken Mullinax is an Anniston area resident. Can't hurt to keep in direct touch with the family; I'm gonna call an old friend in Anniston, to get copies of the Anniston Star newspaper accounts, if available (I moved to TN from Anniston) ... sounds like Aunt Mae needs to be in B'ham Cardiology Center, asap.
Not a topic for this thread - but is your home in Tennesee near Alabama? I am plannning to move to Huntsville to be near my kids and grandkids next month.
I'm in the process of moving from E.TN to Dalton, GA and Cohutta thereafter (near Chattanooga).
I gotta go to bed now, it is 6am and I haven't slept tonight.
here is my summary:
The message-
Mae Magouirk…not comatose …not vegetative …not terminal
Why is Hospice LaGrange, Ga. withholding nourishment?
(LaGrange, Georgia) Mae Magouirk is being withheld nourishment and fluids and the provisions of her Living Will are not being honored at the Hospice-LaGrange, (1510 Vernon Street, LaGrange “Troup County” Georgia, 706-845-3905) a subsidiary of the LaGrange Hospital in LaGrange Georgia. Her family is desperately seeking to save her life before she dies of malnourishment and dehydration.
Mae Magouirk IS NOT comatose and she IS NOT vegetative. She is not terminal!
Mrs. Magouirk is a widow having survived her husband and son. Her Grand daughter had financial power of attorney but not healthcare power of attorney. Mrs. Magouirk was not in any way mentally diminished before she went into the hospital for a heart condition. Her heart condition was very serious and instead of helping her grandmother, her grand daughter admitted her into a hospice (wihout legal authority to do so)and told the Hospice to stop feeding her and hydrting her, that it was time for Grandma to see Jesus because she has glocoma and now with the heart condition, who would want to live like that.
The Grand daughter appeared before a Probate judge who is NOT an Attorney, in Georgia , unbeknownst to Mrs. Magouirk's sister and brother who are legally her next of kin. The Judge granted Guardianship of Mrs. Magouirk's to her grand daughter. Mrs. Magouirk's has been starved and dehydrated since March 28th.
Mrs. Magouirk has a living will that states that she is to be provided nourishment and hydration as long as she is not in a coma or persistent Vegatative state. Mrs. Magouirk was not in a coma or PVS when her grand daughter placed he in the Hospice. This is Forced Euthanasia against an elderly person who has a Living Will that states that she wants food and Hydration. Is this America? is this waht we do to our elderly parents and disabled citizens???
Everyone Please get this Message Out.
just sent an e-mail to Nat Hentoff
Bless your heart.
I took care of a neighbor lady for eight years - Had to fight hospitols and dr.s who had the "she's old, don't bother" attitude.
At 100 (!) she was in desparate need of a gall bladder op. they didn't want to do it - just let her go. "She wouldn't survive, etc."
I had to threaten them with murder and mayhem - and to write about it in my column! - before they finally did it. She was much weaker by that time, as she had been unable to keep anything down for a week - but she sailed thru it with flying colors.
And they didn't ignore her in the future - she lived to be 103 ;o)
Bon nuit.
nighty nite...thanks for your hard work!
Good job, gal - I'm posting this to blog and I'll submit it to the Terri Blogs.
Praise God!!!
First time Grama died was on an operating table in 1986. They revived her but told me she wouldn't live through the day. She had several surgeries after that and made it quite nicely until 2003. Doctors. Bah. They just underestimate a lot of us women. :-)
I'm gonna believe that for Mae too.
rock on my sister...
I called Purdue
THEY NEED SERIOUS BOMBARDMENT!!!
THEY WERE SOOOOOO INDIFFERENT!
"we can't do anything..."
SPIT!
Saxby Chamblis is a GREAT guy though!!
1-800-234-4208
Just a sec. that is a good point and another poster addressed that, on another thread, let me go check.
Sleep well. We'll keep the fires burning on this side of the world.
I just contacted David Boies. I think I'll go ahead and contact Zell Miller too. If anyone with a personal connection is able to do so as well, please go ahead.
Round up of Volunteers-
Now you knwo my spelling sucks so you'll jsut have to make a litle game of what those letters you are reading mean :)
eeevil conservative- she is the coordinator.
When you make your contacts Freepmail eeevil for her contact information. eeevil will contact the family (not the grand daughter)
Ohioan frrm Florida - Father Provone
Jj MacWow - Franscian priets I think form minnesota
Combat_Boots - Jessy Jackson
nicmarlo - the attorney of record
lil'bit [THE VERY FIRST PERSON TO VOLUNTEER, after schmelvin, eeevil conservative, and BykrBayb who did the intial investigation for all of us]- Elderly Abuse Complaint
netizen- Organizations for persons with disabilities
russesjunjee- I hate speeling your screen name so hard for me!- Politicians
Main-iac7 - Georgia News Organizations
djreece- David Boise (and I ahven't a clue who he is) plus djreece comes up with his/her own good ideas as well
Wneighbor- the thankless task of keeping up a Ping List Merci!
Sun - National Media
Wampus SC - He didn't answer but hopefully he will do Talk Radio, I think he will
PhilDragoo - Probably spelled that wrong, he didn't answer either but hopefully will provide us with inspirational graphics
pegiata & pollwog - Our Prayer Warriors, haven't heard back form them but I hope they will give us inspiration.
Now time for bed. I have a lot fo work to do ont he Olvie fam so i may not be back here for a while. But you don't need me, you all are doing the work any how.
Please visit other trheads at FR and encourage people to visit this thread and participate.
eeevil conservative I hope you callt he family ad let them know what we are doing. Also it would be good to have a standing time for a once a day phone call. We will be looking for updates on Mrs. Mae Magouirk. With information coming dirctly formt he family through you, it will give us encouragement, even mroe encouragement to all work harder.
God Bless you all, Good-Night.
http://www.hospicepatients.org/terri-schiavo-10-12-02-press-rel.html
[SNIPS]
Hospice that enrolls Non-Terminal Patients Commits Fraud
The United States Office of Inspector General has issued its warning to the public about questionable hospice agency practices and stated that some hospices have been found to engage in, "practices which ... have inappropriately maximized their Medicare reimbursements at beneficiary expense. These practices include: Making incorrect determinations of a person’s life expectancy for purposes of meeting hospice eligibility criteria." A hospice that bills Medicare, Medicaid or a private insurer for a non-terminal patient is violating the contracts which allow hospices to provide services for the terminally ill.
Hospices are not licensed to care for the chronically ill. In order for a patient to be admitted to hospice, the physician must "certify" that the patient is likely to die within six months due to a terminal illness. Terri Schiavo has no terminal illness; the only cause of death in her case would be her intentional murder by those intent on ending her life.
Original Hospice Mission Violated
The original hospice mission is to care for, support and manage the symptoms of the terminally ill until a death occurs in its own natural timing. Every hospice nurse and physician knows that hospice is supposed to neither hasten death nor seek to cure the terminal illness. Hastening the death of a patient goes against everything hospice stands for.
Although Terri Schiavo's case will be decided in a Pinellas County courthouse, any hospice that accepts a chronically ill patient has violated not only the spirit of hospice and the mission of hospice, but the **federal regulations** governing hospice.
Read the entire article. There's much more:
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