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 LaGranges 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 Magouirks closest living next of kin. Mae Magouirks 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 Magouirks closest living next of kin lodged a complaint with Hospice LaGranges in-house attorney Carol Todd last Thursday, March 31, Ms. Todd checked Mae Magouirks 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 Magouirks 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 Magouirks aortic dissection is contained and not presently life threatening.
Two weeks ago, Mae Magouirks 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 Magouirks medical power of attorney and thus invoked said powers against the wishes of Mae Magouirks 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 LaGranges 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 Magouirks Living Will, Maes 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 Magouirks sister) and Kenneth Mullinax (Mae Magouirks nephew) via phone on Thursday, March 31 that Georgia Law stipulated that Mrs. Mullinax and her brother A. B. McLeod (Mae Magouirks 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 Magouirks 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 Maes 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 Magouirks 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 Maes 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 Magouirks 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 Magouirks 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!
Maes present state and vital signs Maes 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 Maes life: Jack Kirby, Kirby & Roberts***
There are Terri's everywhere we haven't heard about. But now it's out in the open for all to see. Lord help us.
I think Terri's case has given family members trying to fight for their loved ones the green light to speak up in public.
I tried to contact Focus on the Family and Dobson, but am not sure that it was the best way. I encourage any other FReepers who have contacts with the organization to try as well.
I also contacted Life Legal Defense Foundation, which helped in Terri's Fight.
"What document?"
Mae has a living will stating that she wants nourishment unless she is vegetative or comatose. She is neither one.
Bump!
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.
I don't think living wills will even matter before long.
Bump!
Hopefully they can help rouse their membership.
You never disappoint your fans. :D
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
In France is is 9am, late ight bump for my friends across the pond.
Thank you for your suggestion. I tried contacting Todd, using your name.
My first job as a teenager was as a companion for adults with severe mental disabilities.
I concur with this beautiful, heartwrenching post of yours.
Bump.
Just came across this thread.
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.
See this related thread also. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1379537/posts Granddaughter yanks grandma's feeding tube
Wneighbor has the ping list.
Thank you for the warning that some are saying this is over. That is false. We must all keep fighting hard.
Hello again.
Only three hours of sleep? :-(
Thank you for the link.
There is a sickness in our nation, the depth of which I did not quite realize until recently.. :-(
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