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

Media Release | 4-6-05 | The Family of Mae Magouirk

[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***

[eeevil conservative]

Oh yeah!

I asked her, "Is it policy to consider next of kin to be a grandaughter over a brother or sister?"

She nutted up like Fort Knox.

I bet they are more careful-- at least for a little while...

After what the nursing home did to my grandma-- I will NEVER STOP THE FIGHT!

NEVER!

[Fred Nerks]

The only thing about this entire hospice situation that 'stinks' is the fact that next of kin are able to admit relatives in need of medical care to a facility that sees its primary function as assisting them to DIE instead of providing the medical care they need to LIVE!
The judge in this case was obviously aware of the danger in admitting this woman to a hospice, why else would he have stipulated that she be given nutrition?
Can you imagine being admitted to a hospital with a doubt in your mind they would FEED you without an order from a judge?
Wake up, your entire hospice culture in the US is suspect.

[maine-iac7]

Thanks for the link - terrifying.

and every time I see this particular photo of Terri, it's wrenches my heart. It was taken while she was getting therapy and I challenge anyone to look at her and say - "vegetable" - she was benefiting from therapy...but after being thrown away and denied not only therapy or medical care for colds, infections, NO stimulation like wheelchair rides outside, radio only on one station, limited visitors, etc etc - I challenge anyone to lie in a bed, in a tiny shaded room for a decade - to not go insane (Terri didn't ) let alone improve...criminal beyond belief. I have to believe "revenge is mine, sayeth the Lord."

[judgemc]

You don't know that's true the ONLY person who has put out any information is the Nephew who has not been caring for the grandmother. All of you are relying soley on what he has told you. That in my book stinks. The hospice can't tell you anything it would violate HIPPA. Teh judge really can't tell you anything, he never really made a ruling. Teh only person to tell us anything is KEN. The same ken who is now one radio stations around Georgia complaining about judicial tyranny.

Someone had an alterior motive.

[Fred Nerks]

Heartbreaking. No words can express what I feel when I see her photograph. Murder. They murdered her slowly, by deprivation, and finally starved her to death. Criminal beyond belief, yes.

[Fred Nerks]

Well, I guess you're not the schoolteacher granddaughter, one would at least expect her to be able to spell. So, tell me, what's your motive?
The old lady is in hospital now, she's receiving treatment, all's well that ends well, so why are you so unhappy?

[maine-iac7]

All of you are relying soley on what he has told you. That in my book stinks. ....Teh judge really can't tell you anything, he never really made a ruling...Someone had an alterior motive.

Are you saying that Mae was never entered into the Hospice? Or are you saying that the purpose for Hospice isn't to aid terminal people in their last days? Why do you say the judge made no ruling? ARe we relying "solely" on what the nephew said - does that mean the Mae WASN"T air-lifted to hospital? Are you saying he made everything up? just what ARE you saying?,

You also say"Someone had an alterior motive" (Did you mean "ulterior?")

I am beginning to believe that ...

[eeevil conservative]

just a minor correction...or two...

the Hospice DID tell me something- and HIPPA wasn't an issue becuase I didn't talk to a nurse. I talked to the assistant to the In-House Attorney- that just happen to be out all week after the story hit that the Hospice did NOT act accordingly and made some mistakes when Mae was admitted......

The Judge also told me plenty...

But then... YOU got a letter from a pastor-- so....

Ya know-- I have to be honest- I don't care what anyone's motives are but MY OWN! MY MOTIVES are what I have to live with.

and... never mind-- it's a waste of breath-- think what you want- I stand proud of my actions. I feel very good-- and you can spout and kick and whine and cry all you like-- you can't take that away from me.. after all that is really what you want right? a little contraversy? Can't stand the thought of a Democrat getting our help?

Sad..... very sad...

[judgemc]

I am a democrat. But the facts are not adding up. I am not gettign the same info out of the papers that you are. What side of the country are you on? The only article I've seen says she was not being denied food, she refused a feeding tube on her own, the doctors had only given her a few months to live because of other medical complications not related to but probably caused the aortic dissection that lefet her in an altered state, the grandaughter did have the right to make medical decisions because of her proximity and care that she has given the grandmother, the brother,sister, and nephew have not made any claims to Mae's care in the last ten years when it was turned over to her grandaughter and NOW they want to get involved?

[mother22wife21]

You the man, Schmelvin.

[supercat]

33 generations go back more than 1000 yrs. Just where did those society members come from - their ancestors were who?

Do you think most generations have more than 30 years' age difference between mother and child? Fine, make it 1500 years. Unless you think women were still having children at age 45.

Just ONE pair of common ancestors, out of countless thousands, would result in millions of descendants by now...as the numbers more than double each generation coming back this way.

So? Explain how current inhabitants of two societies separated from each other for 1500 years are going to have any common ancestors within 33 generations (earlier I was assuming 30 years/generation, but I guess it's conceivable a society could theoretically have generations longer than that; I really doubt any society is going to have generations longer than 45 years).

[eeevil conservative]

WOW! there is half the problem. I have no idea where you are getting your info.

okay- what side of the country am I on?

uuuuhhmmm.. the RIGHT side.

refused a feeding tube on her own?

Look Mae's sister has suffered from the same problems as Mae is facing. That is why Kenneth wanted her at UAB. In LaGrange they were talking about doing surgery- and Kenneth has been trying to tell them that surgery is not necessary-- he knows because it was succesful for his own mother.

That is why he agreed to the 2 out of 3 doctors making the decision. He never alerted any media until the doctors went well over 48 hours when they were supposed to get back on it within 24.

You can trust your sources-- that is fine-- but I have been at Frep longer than a day- not much longer-- LOL-- but- and I have done research- reporting- etc- for YEARS! I don't mess around. I don't want a pastor's opinion. I want to talk to the Judge and the Hospice In House Attorney and the client's attorneys, etc.

So trust what you wish...

I do my OWN homework is all. Heck-- I called Bernie McKabe-- had him on the phone within 2 minutes. That is what a reporter does. They go to the source.

[mother22wife21]

You.

[judgemc]

Well, I'm a little closer to the action than you. I'm here.

[eeevil conservative]

oh! okay--lol

so geography proves facts?

Honestly-- how old are you?

And where is "here"

[judgemc]

Do you mean Bernie McCabe? Nice man.

[mother22wife21]

Yes, but, why are you here? You are a democrat.

[eeevil conservative]

yeah-- uhuh-- Bernie is the best-- lol!

I think you make my case...

but thanks for playing...

care to elaborate on "here"

[Lovergirl]

VACANCY @ THE DU HOTEL. LIGHTS ARE FLASHING. HURRY.

[eeevil conservative]

Yes-- he is a democrat on Freep-- Hmmm...

I think he just likes to argue.. notice the circles...

still won't say how old it is though....