Granddaughter yanks grandma's feeding tube

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | April 7, 2005 | Sarah Foster

[Netizen]

Contact Information

Division of Aging Services
Two Peachtree Street, NW
Suite 9385
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3142
Phone: 404.657.5258
Fax: 404.657.5285

http://aging.dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHR-DAS/menuitem.9e91405d0e424e248e738510da1010a0/?vgnextoid=90439b953be20010VgnVCM100000bf01010aRCRD



DHR informs consumers of their rights under Georgia's Living Will Law

March 31, 2005

ATLANTA (GA) – The Department of Human Resources Division of Aging Services (DAS) informs Georgians that under Georgia’s law on Living Wills, when completing the forms they can choose for themselves the medical care they want when they are no longer able to communicate with doctors or family.

“People have the right to choose to either be kept alive for as long as possible or not to have their death prolonged,” said Maria Greene, Director of the Division of Aging Services. ”Therefore, it is very important that they think about the end of life, make their own decision, and discuss it with their family, friends and clergy or spiritual advisors. If they don’t make a choice and let their wishes be known in writing, their physicians and family will be forced to decide for them.”

Georgia’s Living Will, first passed in 1984 was revised in 1992 to allow for withholding or withdrawing treatment while a person is in a persistent comatose or vegetative state. It also authorizes a person’s doctor to withhold or withdraw certain medical procedures such as a respirator or ventilator in certain conditions. One is allowed to choose to accept or refuse artificial nutrition or hydration–feeding tubes. The Living Will operates when a person: has a terminal condition; is in a persistent comatose condition (coma); or is in a persistent vegetative state.

A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, a more extensive health care instrument, allows one to appoint an agent to carry out many more medical treatment decisions and choose the kinds of medical treatment they want or don’t want. These decisions can include postponing and delaying death, just like the Living Will allows.

Georgia law requires that two people witness you signing a Living Will. These witnesses must be: at least 18 years of age; not-related to you; not able to inherit from your estate; not be responsible for paying your medical bills; and, neither the first nor second witness can be your doctor or any employee of the hospital or nursing home from where you are being cared. If you make a Living Will while a patient in a hospital or resident of a skilled nursing facility, a third witness is required who must be the medical director of the skilled nursing home or staff physician not participating in your care.

Once your Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care are signed, you should have several copies made. The originals should be kept with your other important papers, such as your Last Will and Testament. These papers should be kept in a place where someone can find them. Copies should be given to your family members and your doctors. These documents can be revoked at any time.

A Living Will or a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care allows you to retain control over your medical care, even if you are no longer able to communicate. Deciding about one of these documents should help you and your families rest easier, knowing that your wishes about your care are known. The law does not require that you consult an attorney or a physician when executing these documents but if you have questions about them, it is a good idea.

The Division of Aging Services provides free information forms on Georgia’s Living Will as well as the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. For more information, contact the Division of Aging Services at 404-657-5319 or go to the Division’s website at www.aging.dhr.georgia.gov and click on Publications on the left.

For information, contact:
Edna Jackson; 404-657-1386
edjackson@dhr.state.ga.us

http://aging.dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHR-DAS/menuitem.ad8cceace9853e248e738510da1010a0/?vgnextoid=299c8538d69f2010VgnVCM100000bf01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e2a807b35414ff00VgnVCM100000bf01010aRCRD

Aging Services.

http://aging.dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHR-DAS/menuitem.9e91405d0e424e248e738510da1010a0/?vgnextoid=5dc466ef2affff00VgnVCM100000bf01010aRCRD

The email address for Edna Jackson is the only email address I have found so far for DHR Aging Services. Sent an email will let you know if/when I hear anything back.

[GeekDejure]

Besides, we need that money Grandmama will be using for her health care so we can take care of the children of the illegal Mexicans. Remember folks, you heard it here first.

=======

swampy.... your brilliance is awesome... why didn't I think of the ILL MEX connexion ???

[editor-surveyor]

"What if the granddaughter questioned just who would take care of the grandmother and bring her food because she was not going to do it any longer?"

Wow! could this be the 'final solution' to the homeless problem? Just tatoo a notice on their forehead:
Do Not Feed by order of the court.

[Fiat volvntas tva]

In many cases, it is cold blooded murder. That is of course the real significance of the Terri Schindler (I refuse to call her Schiavo) murder.

I agree wholeheartedly. Terri's murder was a state sanctioned murder of an innocent life. That slippery slope pointed to in the early days of the abortion debate is now a reality.

Are you aware of the abortion recently in the UK, where the doctors recommended abortion because the child was going to be born with a horrible birth defect, called, "cleft pallet"?

We can thank Darwinism for much of this.

[Cboldt]

* bump * for thread visibility. This story is not making much of an impression in the public arena, yet.

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

Bump again.

We're on the Black Diamond slope straight to hell.

[k2blader]

This definitely needs more coverage.

[TheeOhioInfidel]

Thank you for posting the numbers. Ironically enough, the governor's office was the only place I could get through. I begged them to take more action than Florida did. They said they were "looking into it," for whatever that's worth.
It's funny how in the Schiavo case so many people argued about how a living will would solve the problem. Now that the will is worth nothing, we get the argument about not having all the facts, or that "who would want to live under such circumstances. Pretty soon the reply will be, "who would want to live deaf or blind, or Jewish?"

[MACVSOG68]

PERHAPS, they had inadvertently transposed Florida for Georgia and have since corrected their error. If so, I stand corrected and apologize

No apologies necessary, but yes, they put it out so fast, they forgot to edit it, and corrected it today.

THAT SAID, does that negate the entire factual basis for the story?

I don't know and I'm sure neither do you. I did not state that the story or some part of it may be true, just that WND is not going to be my usual source for information as its agenda does not include fair and balanced. For those ready to rock and roll with this, I suggested an approach that at least heard the side of the judge, Gaddy and the hospice. Then perhaps judgments may be at least based on complete information, something many here seem little interested in.

FAN THE FLAMES? Oh yeah, that's great!!!! Never mind that this "may" be yet another case of "state-sponsored, MURDER."

Anytime a "news" source runs with only one side of tragic story such as this, for obvious reasons, and so quickly that it could not even edit out obvious errors, I would say yes, fan the flames. BTW, I'm glad you used the word "MAY".

Let us "Shoot the Messenger" if "whoever they are" does not comport to "your" perceived standards of what constitutes a "legitimate/believable" news media outlet.

I'm suggesting shooting no one, merely asking an organization that calls itself "news" to act like one, and spend some time garnering all the facts, not just the ones that will support its agenda.

Had I read that the reporter spoke with anyone on the other side of its charges, it might have impressed me just a tad more.

Is he also NOT to be believed, or are you simply one of the many "Pro-Death" supporters I have been exposed to over the past several weeks re: Terri Schiavo?

If he did his homework then he could be more believable. You aren't suggesting that Glenn Beck is an impartial news source though, are you? As for the Pro-death crowd, not sure what you are referring to. Most of us on FR who have questioned the insanity of the circus, and the absurd federal intervention are labeled pro-death. And I'm certainly sorry that simply asking for all sides of an issue causes you such discomfort. It's an old trick that conservatives used to use to flush out the ridiculous liberal rants.

[k2blader]

Pretty soon the reply will be, "who would want to live deaf or blind, or Jewish?"

Or how about just plain ol' depressed?

As in, "I'm tired of living. Why can't I just be pumped full of morphine?"

[yellowdoghunter]

Guess what? FR is pro-life. In all cases. Most people on FR read WorldNetDaily and Newsmax for information and news.

Why don't you just come out and say what you really mean and think? Quit beating around the bush and just admit that you have no problem with what is going on. I mean, WorldNetDaily is reporting it, it must be a lie.

[TheeOhioInfidel]

The president cannot intervene in every case, since this is happening all over the country; but a new law making hospices and reckless judges accountable in such starvation cases needs to be enacted asap in order to establish severe penalties for such actions. Executive intervention in one case followed by a bill signed into law could set the precedent.

[k2blader]

In order to address your complaint about being labeled "pro-death,"

How did you vote on the latest FR poll: "Was it wrong to kill Terri Shiavo?"

Yes/No?

[Eva]

I was asked for permission to do this to my mother when she was admitted to JFK hospital in Cherry Hill, NJ, after suffering a fall. She was about 89 and the doctor said that she had lived a good long life and that I should consider the quality of life that she would have if she recovered.

[yellowdoghunter]

Sickening. How could a doctor even suggest such a thing?

[Cboldt]

The president cannot intervene in every case, since this is happening all over the country; but a new law making hospices and reckless judges accountable in such starvation cases needs to be enacted asap in order to establish severe penalties for such actions.

One of the barriers to executive action is the formal structure of our legal system. The executive has power to intervene in criminal and law enforcement actions, but these cases are heard and orders come from judges in civil courts. Civil courts are designed to handle property - money matters, generally, not the taking of life.

Legislators have demonstrated over the years that they are, for the most part, a spineless lot. But they could divest civil courts of jurisdiction to hear and decide cases involving living wills or the withholding of medical care when that wihholding becomes the primary agent of death.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

http://www.glennbeck.com/audio/free-audio.shtml

Adio of the interveiw of the nephew of his 81 year old aunt

http://www.glennbeck.com/audio/free-audio.shtml

[TheeOhioInfidel]

SO make these cases a matter for criminal courts, and then perhaps the executive could set a precedent for intervening. Our country is in DESPERATE need of a leader with the will to truly lead and stand tall against courruption, ala Reagan or TH. Roosevelt, or Lincoln.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[nmh]

And people want to legalize euthanasia and more suicide assisted deaths. God help us should that EVER become legalized in my state - NJ. I think we still lead in the most abortions.