the killing has begun

[cmotherofpirl]

Thursday, April 7, 2005

Granddaughter yanks grandma's feeding tube

81-year-old neither terminally ill, comatose, nor in vegetative state
By Sarah Foster

© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

In a situation recalling the recent death of Terri Schiavo in Florida, an
81-year-old widow, denied nourishment and fluids for nearly two weeks, is
clinging to life in a hospice in LaGrange, Ga., while her immediate family
fights desperately to save her life before she dies of starvation and
dehydration.

Mae Magouirk was neither terminally ill, comatose nor in a "vegetative state,"
when Hospice-LaGrange accepted her as a patient about two weeks ago upon the
request of her granddaughter, Beth Gaddy, 36, an elementary school teacher.

Also upon Gaddy's request and without prior legal authority, since March 28
Hospice-LaGrange has denied Magouirk normal nourishment or fluids via a feeding
tube through her nose or fluids via an IV. She has been kept sedated with
morphine and ativan, a powerful tranquillizer.

Her nephew, Ken Mullinax, told WorldNetDaily that although Magouirk is given
morphine and ativan, she has not received any medication to keep her eyes
lubricated during her forced dehydration.

"They haven't given her anything like that for two weeks," said Mullinax. "She
can't produce tears."

The dehydration is being done in defiance of Magouirk's specific wishes, which
she set down in a "living will," and without agreement of her closest living
next-of-kin, two siblings and a nephew: A. Byron McLeod, 64, of Anniston, Ga.;
Ruth Mullinax, 74, of Birmingham, Ala.; and Ruth Mullinax's son, Ken Mullinax.

Magouirk's husband and only child, a son, are both deceased.

In her living will, Magouirk stated that fluids and nourishment were to be
withheld only if she were either comatose or "vegetative," and she is neither.
Nor is she terminally ill, which is generally a requirement for admission to a
hospice.

Magouirk lives alone in LaGrange, though because of glaucoma she relied on her
granddaughter, Beth Gaddy, to bring her food and do errands.

Two weeks ago, Magouirk's aorta had a dissection, and she was hospitalized in
the local LaGrange Hospital. Her aortic problem was determined to be severe, and
she was admitted to the intensive care unit. At the time of her admission she
was lucid and had never been diagnosed with dementia.

Claiming that she held Magouirk's power of attorney, Gaddy had her transferred
to Hospice-LaGrange, a 16-bed unit owned by the same family that owns the
hospital. Once at the hospice, Gaddy stated that she did not want her
grandmother fed or given water.

"Grandmama is old and I think it is time she went home to Jesus," Gaddy told
Magouirk's brother and nephew, McLeod and Ken Mullinax. "She has glaucoma and
now this heart problem, and who would want to live with disabilities like
these?"

Gaddy's telephone is not in operation and she could not be reached for comment.

According to Mullinax, his aunt's local cardiologist in LaGrange, Dr. James
Brennan, and Dr. Raed Agel, a highly acclaimed cardiologist at the nationally
renowned University of Alabama-Birmingham Medical Center, determined that her
aortic dissection is contained and not life-threatening at the moment.

Mullinax also states that Gaddy did not hold power of attorney, a fact he
learned from the hospice's in-house legal counsel, Carol Todd.

On March 31, Todd told Ruth and Ken Mullinax during a phone conversation Georgia
law stipulated that Ruth Mullinax and her brother, A.B. McLeod, were entitled to
make any and all decisions for Magouirk. Ruth Mullinax immediately told Todd to
begin administering food and fluids through an IV and a nasal feeding tube.

Todd had the IV fluids started that evening, but informed the family that they
would have to come to the hospice to sign papers to have the feeding tube
inserted. Once that was done, Magouirk would not be able to stay at the hospice.

Ken Mullinax recalled that Todd said the only reason Magouirk was in the
hospice in the first place was that the LaGrange Hospital had failed to exercise
due diligence in closely examining the power of attorney Beth Gaddy said she
had, as well as exercising the provisions of Magouirk's living will.

Todd explained that Gaddy had only a financial power of attorney, not a medical
power of attorney, and Magouirk's living will carefully provided that a feeding
tube and fluids should only be discontinued if she was comatose or in a
"vegetative state" – and she was neither.

Gaddy, however, was not dissuaded. When Ken Mullinax and McLeod showed up at the
hospice the following day, April 1, to meet with Todd and arrange emergency air
transport for Magouirk's transfer to the University of Alabama-Birmingham
Medical Center, Hospice-LaGrange stalled them while Gaddy went before Troup
County, Ga., Probate Court Judge Donald W. Boyd and obtained an emergency
guardianship over her grandmother.

Under the terms of his ruling, Gaddy was granted full and absolute authority
over Magouirk, at least for the weekend. She took advantage of her judge-granted
power by ordering her grandmother's feeding tube pulled out, just hours after it
had been inserted.

Georgia law requires that a hearing for an emergency guardianship must be held
within three days of its request, and Magouirk's hearing was held April 4 before
Judge Boyd. Apparently, he has not made a final ruling, but favors giving
permanent guardianship power to Gaddy, who is anxious to end her grandmother's
life.

Ron Panzer, president and founder of Hospice Patients Alliance, a patients'
rights advocacy group based in Michigan, told WND that what is happening to
Magouirk is not at all unusual.

"This is happening in hospices all over the country," he said. "Patients who are
not dying – are not terminal – are admitted [to hospice] and the hospice will
say they are terminally ill even if they're not. There are thousands of cases
like this. Patients are given morphine and ativan to sedate them. If feeding is
withheld, they die within 10 days to two weeks. It's really just a form of
euthanasia."

Ken Mullinax does not want that to happen to his aunt. He pointed out that one
of the ironies in this tragedy is that the now-helpless woman worked for years
as a secretary for a prominent local cancer doctor.

"She devoted her whole life to helping those who heal others, and now she's
being denied sustenance for life," he said.

Mullinax said he has begged Gaddy to let him take on full responsibility for his
aunt's care.

"If she would just give us a chance to keep Aunt Mae alive, that's all we ask,"
he said. "They [Beth and her husband, Dennis Gaddy] have a family and Beth is a
teacher, and it was just getting to be a lot of trouble. But I'm the caregiver
for my mom, and Aunt Mae could move in with us. We'll buy another house with a
bedroom and we'll take care of her. She can move in with us once she can leave
the hospital."

But her health becomes more precarious by the hour. Her vital signs are still
good, but since admission to hospice she has not been lucid – "but who would be
since nourishment and fluids have been denied since March 28," Mullinax
remarked.

Attorney Carol Todd could not be reached for comment; a message on her voicemail
said she would be gone the entire week of April 4. Hospice-LaGrange did not
return phone calls.

[God Conquers]

Well, this is not surprising....

For anyone who says the "slippery slope" argument is the weakest argument against moral rollback.... see HOLLAND as a perfect example of why it is not.

And NA is not too far behind.

[crusader1234]

Thats digusting. If she has a living will, I hope that the daughter gets @#$^ing charged with murder, provided she doesn't recover.

[MC Just]

How sad. We knew this was going to happen. Lord have mercy on the United States of America..

[jezic]

and so it begins

[Donna]

Here we go again..........
Let's See If We Can Help Mae!

Local Office of the DHR
Division of Family and Childrens Services (DFCS)ocal offices of the DHR Division
of Family and Childrens Services (DFCS)


Troup County DFCS
504 East Depot Street
LaGrange, Georgia 30241-4631
(706) 845-4200
FAX (706) 845-4221

Contact Information
Governor Sonny Perdue
Web Site: www.gov.state.ga.us
E-mail: Contact Via 'Web Form.'

203 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone: (404) 656-1776
Fax: (404) 656-5947

Washington Office:
400 N. Capitol St., NW, Ste. 376
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 624-3681


Willie Rutledge


Media Release


For Immediate release!
To: All media, and supporters of life.
From: The Family of Mae Magouirk
Date: April 6, 2005
Contact: Kenneth Mullinax 205-408-7598/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 (706-882-9124), 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 256-236-1331) and Mrs. Lonnie Ruth Mullinax (Her sister 205-408-7598) 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 (706-882-1411) 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 (706-812-4308) and Dr. Raed Aqel, (205-934-9999) 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 (706) 883-1690)…Court CASE NUMBER: Estate 138-05
Attorney for saving Mae’s life: Jack Kirby, Kirby & Roberts, (706) 884-2992***



Fight4Terri @aol.com

Theresa Marie Schindler
December 3, 1963 ~ March 31, 2005
Light a candle For Terri at her online Memorial Website
Memory-of.com - Memorial website in memory of Theresa Schindler (1963-2005)
[url="http://theresa-schindler.memory-of.com/about.aspx"]http://theresa-schindler.memory-of.com/about.aspx[/url]

[ardillacid]

I'm from MN where we just had another school shooting in Red Lake. Its ironic to watch the news try to dissect how this could possibly happen (even though its as obvious as the nose on their face.) Well, like Jesus said, the tree will be known by its fruit. We are beginning to see the fruit of killing 44 MILLION Americans in the mother's womb. Now, we apparently enter into this euthanasia phase of our history, and we become more evil (as a nation, not necesarily as individuals. There are good people still in this country.)

[conservativecatholic]

This is cleary a domino effect. Once Terry died feeding tubes began to be removed from people left and right. Ridiculous and insane. What is America coming to?

[Donna]

Remember: responsible for the effort, not the outcome.

We should drink in the good news, lest we faint.
_______________________________________


[b]MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH [/b]

[i]'Grandma' airlifted
to medical center
'Receiving IV fluids, nourishment,' says nephew who credits WND, bloggers, 'Terri's friends'[/i]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: April 9, 2005
6:22 p.m. Eastern


[i]By David Kupelian
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com [/i]


Mae Magouirk, the 81-year-old Georgia widow over whose medical care a family tug-of-war reminiscent of the Terri Schiavo case has been raging, has been transported from the hospice in LaGrange, Ga., to the University of Alabama-Birmingham Medical Center, according to her nephew, where "she is receiving food, fluids, cardiac care and neurological help."

This morning, Magourik's nephew Ken Mullinax, who had been fighting to have his aunt removed from Hospice-LaGrange in LaGrange, Ga., where, he said, she had not been properly fed or hydrated, contacted WorldNetDaily with this phone message:


Because of your articles and all of the friends of Terri, my Aunt Mae Magouirk is now in the University of Alabama-Birmingham Medical Center and is receiving food, fluids, cardiac care and neurological help. We are overjoyed.
Praise be the name of the Lord, praise be all of the friends of Terri Schindler [Schiavo]. We could never have mobilized public sentiment and pressure on these people in LaGrange, Ga. – at Hospice, the LaGrange, Ga., doctors or the probate judge – unless the friends of Terri and the wonderful media of WorldNetDaily.com had become involved. Thank you all.


Under the terms of an April 4 court order, Magouirk's medical treatment was to be decided by three cardiologists tasked with deciding what treatment would be best and where it should take place.


Pending that decision, Mullinax, 45, has contended that his aunt had been without substantial food or hydration for 10 days at the hospice.

---------------------------

From: Ken Mullinax, nephew of Mae
To: All of Terri's Supporters

THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF ALL OF THE FRIENDS OF TERRI, MY AUNT MAE MAGOUIRK HAS BEEN AIR LIFTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM MEDICAL CENTER... and receiving IV fluids, nourishment and some of the finest medical care available in the United States!

Praise be the name of the Lord GOD...
Thanks to Terri's friends...
It would NEVER ever have been possible without bloggers who love life , and the truth!!

I am racing from my home to UAB now and will type a detailed update after I see my Aunt Mae!

Thanks guys, your calls, emails, blogs and prayers did it ALL!!!
I so love you guys!!!!!!!!!!


[i]Fight4Terri @aol.com[/i]

[Donna]

A day late and a dollar short, but this is good news:
_____________________________


Wednesday, April 13, 2005

RE: Mae Magourik

Several days ago, I had sent out a notice to all of you to please help Mae Magourik, the woman in Georgia who was about to succumb to starvation and dehydration like Terri had inflicted upon her by estranged spouse, Michael Schiavo. Many of you immediately picked up your telephones, sent emails and faxes to help save Mae. Consequently, Aunt Mae was saved.

Tonight, Ken Mullinax, Mae's nephew, will appear on
Fox News Hannity and Colmes to discuss what transpired during his efforts to save his Aunt Mae. A message I received from Ken is below.

The program airs at 9:00 PM ET, or you may go to the Fox news website at:
[url="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,134671,00.html"]http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,134671,00.html[/url]

Thank you for your help at saving Aunt Mae's life.

Cheryl


Date: 4/10/2005 8:56:03 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: mockingbird@compuhelp.net
Reply To:
To: Fight4Terri@aol.com
CC:
BCC:
Sent on:


Sent from the Internet (Details)




Thanks again to you and your friends.
Ken