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***
I sent the editor - Andrea Lovejoy _ an email a fews hours ago - don't expect to hear anything before tomorrow - if at all...will let y'all know
Just came on now. What's up??
I need to get some sleep too
I have a LOT to do tomorrow!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!
I AM SO THRILLED WITH ALL OF YOU!
I AM HONORED TO BE A PART OF SUCH A GREAT GROUP OF POEPLE!!
jyates@legis.state.ga.us;dwix@mindspring.com;wroger@alltel.net;caw@coastalnow.net;ewilliam@legis.state.ga.us; wkwillard@hotmail.com; jwilkins@legis.state.ga.us;staxx@bellsouth.net; petewarren99@comcast.net; lwalker@nfumc.org; stevetumlin@bellsouth.net; bthomas@legis.state.ga.us; mthomas@legis.state.ga.us; rteilhet@yahoo.com; wtalton@legis.state.ga.us; pstephen@legis.state.ga.us; quickrxdrg@aol.com; calvinsmyre@synovus.com; vsmith@legis.state.ga.us; rsalaam@legis.state.ga.us; tsmith@legis.state.ga.us; richard@smithforgeorgia.com; psmith@legis.state.ga.us; lysmith@legis.state.ga.us; smith98@bellsouth.net; hamerson@alltel.net; aanderso@legis.state.ga.us; gsinkfie@legis.state.ga.us; fsims@legis.state.ga.us; ascott@legis.state.ga.us; chuckscheid@msn.com; csims@legis.state.ga.us; dsheldon@legis.state.ga.us; jshaw@legis.state.ga.us; lesetzler@mactec.com; mscott@legis.state.ga.us; rsailor@legis.state.ga.us; erynders@legis.state.ga.us; rroyal@legis.state.ga.us; crogers@legis.state.ga.us; jayroberts@alltel.net; grichard@legis.state.ga.us; dlakly@mindspring.com; trice@legis.state.ga.us; bobby_reese@bellsouth.net; sreece@legis.state.ga.us; breece@legis.state.ga.us; rray@legis.state.ga.us; nrandall@legis.state.ga.us; dralston1@tds.net; alanpowell23@hotmail.com; dporter@legis.state.ga.us; don@donparsons.net; lparrish@legis.state.ga.us; bparham@legis.state.ga.us; norrock@legis.state.ga.us; loneal@legis.state.ga.us; moliver@legis.state.ga.us; jneal@legis.state.ga.us; qmurphy@legis.state.ga.us; jmurphy@legis.state.ga.us; rmumford@legis.state.ga.us; mosb7101@hotmail.com; hmosley@legis.state.ga.us; gmorris@legis.state.ga.us; jmills@legis.state.ga.us; alisha@alishamorgan.com; mitchell@legis.state.ga.us; pmiller@legis.state.ga.us; tmccall@legis.state.ga.us; fran_millar@palmercay.com; jmeadows@legis.state.ga.us; jmcclinton@legis.state.ga.us; jmay@legis.state.ga.us; hmaxwell@legis.state.ga.us; chuck@martinforgeorgia.com; marinstatehouse@aol.com; judymanning@bellsouth.net; rmangham@legis.state.ga.us; topdrawer@mchsi.com; jlunsford@legis.state.ga.us; dlucas@legis.state.ga.us; barry@barryloudermilk.com; jlord@legis.state.ga.us; elindsey@legis.state.ga.us; jlewis@legis.state.ga.us; rogerlane167@hotmail.com; blane@legis.state.ga.us; blane@lega.usgis.state.; dlakly@mindspring.com; tknox@legis.state.ga.us; dknight@legis.state.ga.us; jbvkidd@aol.com; mkfnbc@rose.net; jlkeen@bellsouth.net; djordan@legis.state.ga.us; info@sheilajones.org; janjones38@bellsouth.net; terryjohnson@cobb.net; pjenning2@legis.state.ga.us; charlesj@legis.state.ga.us; jjamieso@legis.state.ga.us; ljames@legis.state.ga.us; mike@meetmikejacobs.com; ljackson@legis.state.ga.us; sistiehudson@aol.com; cy@legis.state.ga.ushugle; hhoward@legis.state.ga.us; phouston@legis.state.ga.us; gahouse71@yahoo.com; doug@dougholt.org; bholmes@cau.edu; cecilyh@legis.state.ga.us; chill@legis.state.ga.us ; mhenson@legis.state.ga.us; bhembree@legis.state.ga.us; jhecksta@legis.state.ga.us; kheard@legis.state.ga.us; jheard@legis.state.ga.us; mhatfield@legis.state.ga.us; bharbin@legis.state.ga.us; bhanner@legis.state.ga.us; ggreene@legis.state.ga.us; tgraves@legis.state.ga.us; repdavidgraves@hotmail.com; rgolick@legis.state.ga.us; hgeising@legis.state.ga.us; pat@patgardner.org; agfreeman@cox.net; bfrankli@legis.state.ga.us; rforster@legis.state.ga.us; vfludd@legis.state.ga.us; jfloyd@legis.state.ga.us; hfloyd@legis.state.ga.us; bfleming@legis.state.ga.us; cepps@legis.state.ga.us; englandhomeport2@aol.com; eaeh@facilitygroup.com; wdukes@legis.state.ga.us; dren16999@aol.com; mdollar@legis.state.ga.us; dodson.ron@worldnet.att.net; tdickson@legis.state.ga.us; ddean@legis.state.ga.us; bday@legis.state.ga.us; sdavis@legis.state.ga.us; bcumming@legis.state.ga.us; mcrawfor@legis.state.ga.us; asc647@bellsouth.net; scooper@legis.state.ga.us; tcoleman@legis.state.ga.us; bcoleman@legis.state.ga.us; jcole@legis.state.ga.us; mcoan@legis.state.ga.us; mcheokas@legis.state.ga.us; mickey@legis.state.ga.us; jchamber@legis.state.ga.us ;kathyashe56@mindspring.com
Listen, you are fighting a good fight here, but they are just baiting you.It's a stalemate. Nothing you say will change their mind. It's draining your energy, time and focus away, and that may be the point.
It gets your focus off of Mae and helping her. We need you. :-)
You've got mail. :)
ExPat pinged you for prayer on this. Another lady is being dehydrated and starved in Georgia. This one has written documentation that this is against her will but the granddaughter has taken that choice away from her. Please pray for all involved in this - especially LIFE for Mae Magouirk.
Thanks. Praying with you. :-)
Letter sent.
Lord Jesus, We come to you recognizing that the battle between good and evil is raging, and now on another front. We collectively bring you grandma Mae tonight. Lord Jesus sustain this dear woman and give her courage and strength to hold on until she can once again be fed. Lord help us to be able to re-mobilize and go forth into battle yet again , remembering that ultimately the battle is YOURs...help us to trust You when the way gets weary. Help us to renew our strength from Your Word. God I ask you in Your son's name Jesus Christ, to cause the granddaughter to have a spirit of compassion on her grandmother.Help the other family members to be able to gain guardianship. We will praise You and give You thanks for YOU ALONE are worthy to be praised. In the precious name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
answered my own question.........been reading back posts here. This is so sad........so sad!! Preparing to fax, email and call again tomorrow.!!!!!
You have mail.
That is great. I KNEW we could count on our 'good' friends.
Eeevil, thanks for all your help and hard work. I'm getting ready to crash soon too.
I had insomnia last night (which is a good thing, because if I'd gone to bed at the usual time I wouldn't have found the press release when I did.) I went to bed after the sun came up, but set my alarm for 8:30am so I could make some phone calls to verify this story. I only got 2 and a half hours sleep, so I'm dead on my feet now.
I'm going to get up early again tomorrow and start ringing phones off the hook again.
Thanks so much, everyone! I love you guys!
http://www.thedavidallenshow.com/guests/mullinax.ken.20050407/view
"Phil, I interviewed Ken this evening. The audio will be up in a few hours. I'm pushing on this end - he should get more media. Regards, David Allen"
I'm working on setting up contacts through my parents and inlaws to pass on information and articles so they can contact their local papers.
My parents live in Smoky Mountains of NC, and lots of folks in states below NC have homes in the mountains they go to in the summer. There is a rather large retirement contingent that flows in and out through out the year. Information they receive would also be taken back to their home states.
My inlaws live in Myrtle Beach, SC. While it contains a fairly transient population, and that could help in someways as stated above, once again there are quite a few retirement home destinations in the area.
I know this may not be as hot button as calling the principle characters,but that seems to be covered and getting the story out shines the light on the dark corners.
My mom has a large circle of retired friends who are very agitated and scared by what they are learning through the news and what I pass on from here. Frankly, they are quite angry also. So, there is a resource pool that hasn't been tapped yet. They all have various disabilities that result in limited mobility, however, they know how to use a phone. :-D
Thank-you for the prayer. I knew something was missing from this thread.
Fantastic news. Thank you!
Please help us notify media. Do as much as you can. If you only have a little time, please do SOMETHING. Thanks.
Sean Hannity's e-mail: James.Grisham@abc.com
And click next link for the media in GEORGIA
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/?command=state_search&state=GA&submit.x=13&submit.y=10
***SPECIAL NOTE
Nationwide local media contact database - one of the best all-purpose links.
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media
For contact info for all media in a local area, enter your zipcode.
For contact info for all media in a state, click that state on the map.
For national media, check the "show national media" box.
When it returns your list of media outlets, you can click on the name to go to the website.
If you want to send email to any or all of them, click the box next to the name. Then, click "compose message". When the next screen comes up, enter the requested information, type in your message, and click "send message".
==>Added bonus: on the left hand side of the search page are links to the same kind of contact info for national, state and local officials; and state agencies.
To Call FOX News Channel:
1-888-369-4762
FOX News Channel Comments
Comments@foxnews.com
cbs phone # is 212-975-3247; e-mail is audsvcs@cbs.com
If you call you can either leave a message on their answering machine, or if you wish to talk with a "real person," call between 10 - 11:30 a.m. or 2 - 3:30 p.m.
Here's the background for those who don't know:
To view ENTIRE article, visit http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/a...RTICLE_ID=43688
Thursday, April 7, 2005
MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH
Granddaughter yanks grandma's feeding tube
81-year-old neither terminally ill, comatose, nor in vegetative state
Posted: April 7, 2005
7:33 p.m. Eastern
By Sarah Foster
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
In a situation recalling the recent death of Terri Schiavo in Florida, an 81-year-old widow, denied nourishment and fluids for nearly two weeks, is clinging to life in a hospice in LaGrange, Ga., while her immediate family fights desperately to save her life before she dies of starvation and dehydration.
Mae Magouirk was neither terminally ill, comatose nor in a "vegetative state," when Hospice-LaGrange accepted her as a patient about two weeks ago upon the request of her granddaughter, Beth Gaddy, 36, an elementary school teacher.
Also upon Gaddy's request and without prior legal authority, since March 28 Hospice-LaGrange has denied Magouirk normal nourishment or fluids via a feeding tube through her nose or fluids via an IV. She has been kept sedated with morphine and ativan, a powerful tranquillizer.
Her nephew, Ken Mullinax, told WorldNetDaily that although Magouirk is given morphine and ativan, she has not received any medication to keep her eyes lubricated during her forced dehydration.
"They haven't given her anything like that for two weeks," said Mullinax. "She can't produce tears."
The dehydration is being done in defiance of Magouirk's specific wishes, which she set down in a "living will," and without agreement of her closest living next-of-kin, two siblings and a nephew: A. Byron McLeod, 64, of Anniston, Ga.; Ruth Mullinax, 74, of Birmingham, Ala.; and Ruth Mullinax's son, Ken Mullinax.
Magouirk's husband and only child, a son, are both deceased.
In her living will, Magouirk stated that fluids and nourishment were to be withheld only if she were either comatose or "vegetative," and she is neither. Nor is she terminally ill, which is generally a requirement for admission to a hospice.
Magouirk lives alone in LaGrange, though because of glaucoma she relied on her granddaughter, Beth Gaddy, to bring her food and do errands.
(Excerpt)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.