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***
"Once they diagnose someone with dementia- the writing is on the wall."
And as dementia is notoriously difficult to diagnose and in the early stages is often confused with the normal aging process, reduction of blood-flow to the brain, they had to go one better and coin the term PVS Permanent Vegetative State a term which is also under dispute because the patient isn't comatose, and even a patient in a deep coma for years will sometimes come out of it, but the condition/symptoms of PVS can be INDUCED by the administration of drugs which then confirms the original erroneous diagnosis and bingo! You have a guardian who has the power of life or death over you and that's the end of you.
Culling the elderly, that's all it is.
DUH...The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast
Your Community Hospice..... the site you referenced...IS the hospice where Terri was when she was killed. I'm sure they put all that info on their site to give the appearance of being a state-of-the-art, fine and caring, "end of life" facility. I'd probably believe it...if I wasn't aware of their association to the Schiavo case.
In fairness, there may be some honest and caring people involved, but knowing that George Felos and others there are members of the "death" squad...I'd be suspect of their real motives.
She might be able to wipe out her assets but one thing can't do now is wipe out Miss Mae!
(methinks that the legal fees will take care of anything that's left, serves Gaddy right.)
HIGH FIVE !!!
It would take all the guess work out of it.
But the six months pertains to ones life expectancy prior to admission. I don't think they implant a six month timer after you're admitted.
If you are a 'senile old geezer' as you say then perhaps what you are doing here is advocating your own 'right to die with dignity' in a hospice of your own choosing, it's a decision you make for yourself and not for others.
Mae's life is #1 priority and for now, is in good hands.
I know Beth is forbidding family to see Mae, but wondering if they can "call" her; if she's able to talk on the phone (?)
There have been alot of claims that Mae's lack of lucidy was only the result of the alleged hospice care. Too much morphine and not enough food and water. That has presumably been reversed at UAB and I anticipate a lucid Mae to emerge soon, if what those claimants say is true. The time of reckoning is near, one way or the other.
That's a good question. Last I heard, Gaddy has barred any family members from visiting Mae, but that still would not stop a lucid Mae from speaking to doctors and nurses. (Provided they would even listen to her due to Gaddy's claim that Mae suffers from dementia.)
I do recall that Ken told Glenn Beck that when his mother was hospitalized the first time she suffered from an aortic dissection she spent 3 months in a coma before she woke up and got back to living a normal life. So, I don't know how long it will be before we hear from Mae. I really, really would like to hear her side of the story, though.
I am curious about Gaddy's claim that Mae suffers from dementia. I want to know if Mae was properly diagnosed as having dementia and WHEN she was diagnosed as having this condition. After all, dementia is not something that just occurs overnight. There should be some documented history of this, but so far all I have seen is Gaddy's claim in a court document. I'm not even sure if this claim has been backed up by any doctor who is familiar with Mae.
Actually, I just had a very worrysome thought.
According to Ken in his interview with Glenn Beck, when his mother suffered from her aortic dissection she was in a coma for three months before she woke up and resumed her normal life.
Mae's living will specifically states that she may be denied nutrition and hydration if she is in a coma. If Mae goes into a coma and Gaddy is still her legal guardian, she can then legally kill Mae.
Thinking there is a need to know if there is a phone in Mae's room...if she can make or receive calls. Did someone mention she was in ICU ? If so, don't think phones are allowed as not to disturb them. If she's in a private room, and there is a phone, has Beth blocked that form of communication?
Just checking: did you read my post to you on #2212 ? I'd be interested in your opinion, especially on Mae's Living Will and what she checked off regarding nourishment/hydration.
I'm not a lawyer, but I see a different meaning in Mae's Living Will. (Page 31 WND copy)
Scroll back to my post #2212. I was questioning the intent according to the wording and how Mae marked it. The way I'm reading it....she authorizing them to 'PROVIDE' it, not deny it in the event she is in a coma or PVS. I'd be interested to have other opinions
The heck with "authorizing" the provision of nutrition and hydration. She is ORDERING IT. She is DEMANDING it.
Also, Ken's use of "in a coma" may have been colloquial or lazy talk. It may be that his mom was sedated and not terribly responsive. The medical treatment that permits the dissection to heal likely requires a person to be fairly still. And/or, Ken's mom may not have been "caught" at the same time in the progression of the dissection.
It's too bad that Gaddy is such a pucker-butt that she won't communicate.
I'll take another look at the living will and post it here.
I just got an email from Kenneth-- not for publication-- freepmail me if you would like- I would like your feedback...
Uh oh. What did he say?
OOOpps!! sorry.
Looks like you and I agree on Mae's intent and as you said, ORDERED it to be done if she is in EITHER state; coma or PVS. Any attempt to ignore her request is (IMO)attempted, 1st degree murder, with malice and forethought!
As to the loving and so caring G-daughter, the truth has no reason to hide. Those that won't step-up are afraid and have no defense. If she doesn't provide her "truthful" side of this issue, it will be perceived as falsehood on her part and further validate the claims of Ken, etc.
Personally, if I were she, and I was telling the truth, I'd be right there in their face backing up my statements!
You have a heart of gold. Let me try to put your mind at rest; Miss Mae is now in a hospital. Under the care of medical professionals. Even if she slipped into a coma as the result of her condition, the fact that she once before recovered from the same, would prevent her IMO from being removed from the care of her physician. Remember, the rules of admittance to a hospice are that she has only six months at the most to live. Ask yourself, under what circumstances would her current physician sign such an admittance form?
It appears that the checkbox "including nourishment and hydration" meand that the signer WON'T get food and hydration, and checking "excluding nourishment and hydration" results in getting food and water.
The language in the model form is confusion (as is the language in the FLorida Model form), and I bet that many signers have waht is referred to as "critical confusion," choosing an action that is directly contrary to their true wishes.
http://www.ilrg.com/forms/states/ga-livingwill.html <-- LinkGeorgia Living Will
Living will made this _________ day of _________(month, year).
I, _________, being of sound mind, willfully and voluntarily make known my desire that my life shall not be prolonged under the circumstances set forth below and do declare:
1. If at any time I should (check each option desired):
( ) have a terminal condition,
( ) become in a coma with no reasonable expectation of regaining consciousness, or
( ) become in a persistent vegetative state with no reasonable expectation of regaining significant cognitive function, as defined in and established in accordance with the procedures set forth in paragraphs (2), (9), and (13) of Code Section 31-32-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, I direct that the application of life-sustaining procedures to my body (check the option desired):
( ) including nourishment and hydration,
( ) including nourishment but not hydration, or
( ) excluding nourishment and hydration,
be withheld or withdrawn and that I be permitted to die;
If I were Miss Mae's physician, at this point in time I would refuse telephone calls, interviews, anything at all that might worry or concern her, anything at all that might affect her blood-pressure. She needs peace and quiet and lots of sleep!
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