Posted on 01/31/2005 2:03:31 PM PST by KidGlock
Texan held for cutting pacemaker from mother's body
7 minutes ago
HOUSTON (Reuters) - A Texas man has been charged with cutting a pacemaker out of his dead mother's chest with a kitchen knife as part of a long-running dispute with a medical company.
Harris County sheriff's deputies arrested James A. Donalson, 59, on Sunday after paramedics responding to the death of his mother discovered a large incision in her chest, Sergeant Bruce Williams said.
"The son, her caretaker, made the comment, 'I removed the pacemaker,'" Williams said on Monday. "It's my understanding there's been some kind of ongoing dispute between the son, insurance companies and the doctor since this pacemaker was implanted in 1995."
Donalson told reporters he wanted to keep the pacemaker as evidence of possible wrongdoing by its supplier. Investigators also want it to help determine the circumstances of the woman's death.
Donalson was charged with tampering with evidence, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and jailed in lieu of $5,000 (2,655 pounds) bond.
He was set to appear before a judge on Tuesday morning.
Authorities ordered an autopsy but believe his mother, 85-year-old Ann Donalson, died of natural causes. Her son removed the pacemaker with a kitchen knife at their home just northwest of Houston, police said.
"They killed my mother," Donalson told reporters from the back of a squad car on Sunday, apparently referring to a medical device company.
Deputies had not found the pacemaker as of Monday afternoon, Williams said.
OMG.
Oedipus wrecks. Good show.
I found out something very odd this last week. My mother-in-law passed away on Wednesday. She had made all of her arrangements with Neptune Society. The woman we spoke with at Neptune asked if mom had a pacemaker. We said no and then asked why.
It seems that the pacemaker would have been removed and REFURBISHED for someone else!!!! OMG! Personally, I think I would want a brand spankin' new one.
<> LOL - My father has had intestinal problems for a long time, and the Dr's here want to have him swallow a small digital camera that takes a picture along his entire GI - They have 2 prices, a new camera and a "pre-run" camera. Dad turned green and shelled out for the new one.
What a moron. Should had had an autopsy performed with independent examination of the device. This guy's claims against the Company will certainly fall on dead ears now (pardon the pun).
Actually, they would fall on deaf ears, and no pun would be necessary.
No. The use of the term "dead ears" was intentional.
Maybe he heard they take them out for resale and dogs anyway.
Funeral directors routinely remove pacemakers for those being cremated. It's done for the same reason that there are warning labels on your batteries at home cautioning about throwing them into a fire which results in an explosion.
And he has no clue that cutting it out of her chest makes him look like a murderer?
If that act prevents him from procreating (because he ends up in jail), I will nominate him for a Darwin Award.
Maybe it's just me, but a guy who opens up his dead ma with a kitchen knife seems to me to have other potential issues than an insurance claim...
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