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April 10, 2005
Wizbang: Mae Magouirk Update - The Contrarian Edition (UPDATED 4/19 - 08:15 ET)
Topics: Euthanasia advocacy(LATEST UPDATE)
I spoke with Judge "Donald" Boyd by telephone early this morning. I read the following comments from this post to him:
"One of the conditions of her guardianship is "To see that the ward [Magouirk] is adequately fed, clothed, sheltered and cared for, and receives all necessary medical attention, including placement in a nursing home, if appropriate." A nursing home is not a hospice - in a nursing home you are suppose to continue living, in a hospice you are suppose to continue dying(if AND ONLY IF, you are dying in the first place)."
Judge Boyd agreed with our version of his order and with our comments regarding the difference between nursing home care and hospice care. Judge Boyd seems to believe that things fell apart between the families AFTER they left his courtroom and that Beth may have acted upon information from her grandmother's doctors - that the two doctors in LaGrange must have told Beth that Mae should go into the hospice - else Beth could not have put Mae in the hospice. As to the issue of feeding and hydration, Judge Boyd said that it was testified in his court that Mae "was" getting nutrition and hydration. As to whether or not it was adequate, that may be the issue(my comment not Judge Boyd's).
Finally, Judge Boyd has agreed to provide BlogsForTerri with his views and opinions in the matter(not legal opinions but his personal opinions) on Monday. We have promised to post them on BlogsForTerri, Hyscience, ProLifeBlogs, and at the discretion of all other bloggers of the BlogsForTerri team.
Todays Birmingham News Article on Mae
The issue seems to be narrowing down to "SUFFICIENT AND SUBSTANTIAL" nutrition and hydration - not starving and dehydration. But if left in the hospice - Mae would have died. Upon arrival at UAB Med Center, Mae was so dehydrated that the physician believes it will take at least two days of hydration to bring her back to normal - according to nephew, but easily verified. Nephew providing Hyscience and BlogsForTerri a full updated email today for posting.
END OF LATEST UPDATE - begin original post.
As Paul at Whizbang notes, multiple people have made the argument that some things about Mae's case don't add up. As for me, there does seem to be conflicting information from the different sides that are involved in the case. But there is one thing that 'seems' for certain, and that is Mae Magouirk was not dying unless she was withheld medical care, nutrition, and hydration. Medical care for an aortic dissection is not, cannot be, provided in a hospice. Someone, reportedly the granddaughter Beth Gaddy, decided to put Mae in the hospice, saying, "Grandmama 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?" Well, I do believe that Jesus is everywhere but I don't think that this was Beth's meaning in her comment - Beth thinks that Granny is "disabled" and therefore unworthy of life. We've all seen this before!
So the granddaughter 'seems content' to let her grandmother starve to death, dehydrate, or expire from lack of medical attention, or all three. If not, why put her in the hospice?
As for the hospice stating that all is well in their facility, I would probably believe that Bill Clinton didn't have sex with that woman, before I'd believe anything a hospice has to say - especially one that takes in a woman to die that really isn't dying at all, is not PVS, is not in a coma, needs medical attention, and isn't going to get it by order of the patient's ward.
Ergo, Mae was suppose to die in the hospice and not receive medical care for her condition. As for Probate Judge Douglas Boyd, he does appear to have set himself apart from Judge Greer(in the Terri Schiavo case) by stating in his court order that Gaddy is to continue as Magouirk's temporary guardian, but in a formal letter attached to the order stating that her powers were limited. One of the conditions of her guardianship is "To see that the ward [Magouirk] is adequately fed, clothed, sheltered and cared for, and receives all necessary medical attention, including placement in a nursing home, if appropriate." A nursing home is not a hospice - in a nursing home you are suppose to continue living, in a hospice you are suppose to continue dying(if AND ONLY IF, you are dying in the first place).
Paul at Wizbang had an informative post Saturday on the matter. Here is what he had to say:
Update(From Wizbang): No matter the arguments, Mae is out of the hospice and on her way to UAB. I spoke to Ken for about 12 seconds and he promised an update when it was available.
Multiple people have made the argument that this case just doesn't add up. That we don't know all the facts. So, I'm presenting the contrarian arguments as best I can find them. (WIth my opinion of course.)
The Commissar, emailed the hospice where Mae Magouirk was admitted and they emailed back a reply I had seen elsewhere. I had not run it before mostly because I did not realize it was complete. The Commissar says that this is the full reply and for the sake of discussion, I'll keep the Commissar's bolding.
Federal (HIPAA) regulations prohibit us from speaking publicly about the treatment or records related to individual patients. However, we can say that we do not deny nutrition or hydration to any patient.
The staff of West Georgia Hospice/Hospice LaGrange provides compassionate and quality care to each of its patients, which includes offering food and water at frequent intervals.
Perhaps I lived too long in the Bill Clinton "non denial denial" era but that seems like completely worthless legal doublespeak to me. What is most telling is that they have steadfastly refused to confirm or deny repeated inquiries as to whether Magouirk is on a feeding tube.
They say they can't because of patient confidentiality. OK, fair enough. But certainly the granddaughter can give them the right to make a statement. Hospitals make statements to the media every day. All they need is permission from the guardian. In this case, the granddaughter, Beth Gaddy. Apparently Gaddy has not given them permission. Further, Gaddy has refused to talk to the media herself. This is itself probably significant.
But let's look at the bolded sections of the statement:
Continue reading at Wizbang ...
Cross posted at BlogsForTerri
Posted by Hyscience at April 10, 2005 7:55 AM
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- On Judicial Homicide And Legalized Spousal Execution - Mar 08, 2007
- Woman Awakes From 'Vegetative State' After 6 Years (Updated) - Mar 07, 2007
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Comments
I am thrilled that Miss Mae will have the opportunity to live to be 100 !
And I am thrilled to be a "REGULAR" with such a committed group as BlogsForTerri >>>Wow...we actually saved a life !>>>> Now that is saying something! May God Bless the mission...May God move the Bloggers...and May God save the people.
Posted by: JoMarley at April 10, 2005 12:07 PM
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