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I am sure that you all are wondering about the circumstances surrounding my Dad's death. I would like the answer to that also. The death certificate lists that he died of natural causes. The number one cause was chronic respiratory failure. The nursing home has an alarm on the respirator, one behind the nurses station and two nurses stationed at a table in the hallway bewteen the respiratory rooms. And his death was contributed to chronic respiratory failure. Hmmmm.

My father was stayed his execution at the last minute by the Probate Court, who assigned him a Guardian Ad Litem. He was treated aggressively for his CHF and pnuemonia.

I visited my father everyday that I could. I saw him 3 days after coming back from the hospital and I must say that he was the most conscious and alert that I had seen him in nearly a month. I could not tell that man that his wife was trying to pull the plug but I did let him know that his wife was angry with me because I wanted him to have the therapy and she didn't. He had only one week of therapy since he arrived and the rest of the time he spent sedated. He demanded to speak with her but it was too late, as I was shuttled out the door because it was past visiting hours.

He died that night.

First, let me express my sorrow for your loss. I lost my mother in a similar situation - though there was never a question of foul play.

Second, I've been a Freeper since 1998 and I can tell you there are always a few that don't know when to bow out of a debate gracefully... They kick and scream to the end. I believe your family's story should be a concern of everyone. None of us should turn our back when an injustice is done.

I had a living will drawn up many years ago before I was married. It was also before Terry Schindler, Nancy Cruzan (sp?), etc. Since then I have torn it in two, written REVOKED all over it and told my husband I should never have been so stupid to believe this issue could be so cut and dry. Truth is, the only reason I aggreed to it is because it is just standard practice for that portion to be included in wills, and at the time it seemed reasonable.

Older and wiser now, my husband and I are in the process of drawing up new wills, and it will be a MUCH different one.

God bless you and your family. And welcome!

The death certificate lists that he died of natural causes.

Was there an autopsy? A coroner's inquest? Anything? Who signed his death certificate, and did they have anything to do with his care (or lack thereof)?

There needs to be thorough investigation. Have you found any agency yet that will investigate?