It's Happening Again (We've Got Another Schiavo, Starving In GA, No Brain-Damage)

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

(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.

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.

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***

My posts keep getting removed by moderator. I guess the advocates of involuntary euthanasia are feeling threatened again. I'll modify one of the posts that was pulled, and see if it stays this time. If anyone's interested in obtaining the portions that are deleted, freemail me. There are some phone numbers I didn't post, and won't provide, for privacy reasons. The info I did post previously (but deleted from this post) is public information, and consists solely of contact info for people that should be contacted in order to save Mae's life. The advocates of forced euthanasia do not want you to have this information. The family of Mae Magouirk (except her granddaughter) are trying to save Mae's life.

My experience was almost the same as yours. I called every number except the judge. I didn't keep notes. Every time I finished one call, I went on to the next.

So, from memory, called and e-mailed Kenneth Mullinax. The recorded message confirmed the story, and asked that only media leave messages, to avoid overloading the machine. So I didn't leave a message.

Called Hospice-LaGrange, (ADDRESS & PHONE NUMBER DELETED). They confirmed they had a patient named Mae Magouirk. I didn't bother asking questions, because I know they wouldn't be able to answer. I simply informed them that if they didn't resume her nutrition and hydration, there would be a major media blitz.

Called Beth Gaddy (PHONE NUMBER DELETED). The line was being checked for problems. LOL - maybe it burst into flames!

Called Mr. A. B. McLeod (Her Brother). If memory serves, this number was a business, and I think McLeod was part of the business name. I spoke with a nice lady. I didn't ask questions. I just offered to help in any way they might need. I suggested that I could contact media, legislators, or anyone else they suggested. She took my name and phone number.

Called Mrs. Lonnie Ruth Mullinax (Her sister). I don't remember this call specifically. It's on my list of numbers I called though.

Called Hospice LaGrange’s in-house attorney Carol Todd
(PHONE NUMBER DELETED). She's taking the week of April 4 off, but you can call her assistant, K. Lewis (PHONE NUMBER DELETED). I got her voice mail. I left a message, letting her know that the media is being contacted, and she'd better make sure the hospice isn't breaking any laws.

Called Her local LaGrange, Ga. cardiologist, Dr. James Brennan (PHONE NUMBER DELETED). I wonder if I was the first caller. The woman was so polite at first. When I told her I was calling about one of his patients, Mae Magouirk, she remained polite, and confirmed she was a patient. I said I wanted to leave a message for the doctor. She asked what my relationship is to the patient. I told her I'm not related, but I heard she was being starved and dehydrated to death, and they should resume her nutrition and hydration. And... CLICK. I called back, and said, "You hung up on me before I could finish. Tell Dr. Brennan the media is being con... CLICK. I guess she heard enough. I didn't call back.

Called Dr. Raed Aqel, (PHONE NUMBER DELETED) a highly acclaimed interventional cardiologist at the nationally renowned University of Alabama-Birmingham Medical Center. Along with Dr. Brennan determined that Mae Magouirk’s aortic dissection is contained and not presently life threatening. His secretary was real nice, and took my message. Pretty much the same message: I'm aware she's being starved and dehydrated to death. I and several other people are contacting the media.

Called attorney for saving Mae’s life: Jack Kirby, Kirby & Roberts. The nice lady who answered the phone couldn't give any information, but she gave me Mr. Kirby's e-mail address. jkirby@kirbyroberts.com .

E-mailed Jack Kirby (E-MAIL ADDRESS DELETED). Explained that I read about Mae Magouirk on the Internet, and that I'd like to help. I offered to contact media, legislators, or anyone else he felt was appropriate.

I did not contact the court.

This is all from memory, after the fact. Some of the details may be a little off, but it's basically accurate.

Please ping the list to post #522.

I keep reading posts that claim this has been resolved, but it hasn't. Mae Magouirk is dying, and we might be able to prevent that. But not if we all back off, and wait for her obituary.

Here is some contact info. I have more contacts available for anyone who Freepmails me.

Division of Family and Childrens Services (DFCS)
Willie Rutledge
Troup County DFCS
504 East Depot Street
LaGrange, Georgia 30241-4631
(706) 845-4200
FAX (706) 845-4221

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue
Web Site: www.gov.state.ga.us
E-mail: Contact Via 'Web Form.' http://mygov.governmentguide.com/mygov/mail/?id=2582&type=GV&state=GA
203 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone: (404) 656-1776
Fax: (404) 656-5947
Washington Office:
400 N. Capitol St., NW, Ste. 376
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 624-3681

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.