Monday, May 17, 2010

Bishop Clark: No Attempt to Shorten Patient's Life

Several advocacy organizations, such as the National Association to Stop Guardian Abuse (NASGA), ultimately became involved in the [Gary Harvey] case.

According to a report (my emphasis),

In a January, 2010 letter to Bishop Matthew Clark in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, NASGA president, Elaine Renoire, cited: "The guardian attempted to terminate his life and would have been successful had Mrs. Harvey not taken it to the media. St. Joseph's Hospital's Ethics Committee chose to participate in what would have been Gary Harvey's execution rather than prevent it. NASGA is asking you to find out why."

Bishop Matthew Clark responded nearly one month later saying, "I am convinced that St. Joseph Hospital complies with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, that the Hospital is complying with the Order of the Court, and that there has been no attempt to shorten Mr. Harvey's life."

It would seem that our bishop does not equate the recommendation to remove a feeding tube with an attempt to shorten a patient's life.

Full Article and Source:
Bishop Clark: No Attempt to Shorten Patient's Life

12 comments:

timlahrman said...

Guardianship and the Vatican have a couple things in common.

In both, the powers to be are more concerned with protecting the institution than they are concerned with protecting the wards and victims.

I hope this Bishop went to confession after writing this letter. That will be 5 Rosaries, 3 Act of Contrition(s), 10 Our Father's and 4 Hail Mary(s) .... then get back to killing off wards, and whatever else you guys do there in the catholic church ...

Oh yeah --- that would be .... cover your a**

Judy/Judy said...

Good going NASGA, it's high time the truth is exposed about guardianship with the proof of who knew what when and what if anything they did about it to those who have the power to stop the abuses and get rid of the smokescreen. Gary Harvey needs to go home and Bishop Clark needs to get some hands on information and experience.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Bishop Clark is doing a whitewash like the now NY Cardinal Dolan.

He told the attorneys in Wisconsin get the abuse cases dismissed when he addressed the public he said otherwise.

NYTimes

Anonymous said...

Perhaps if Gary Harvey were Bishop Clark's Father or his brother, he'd look at it differently?

Max said...

Bishop Matthew Clark has a chance here to do the right thing - to do the teachings of the church - to help Gary Harvey.

StandUp said...

Asking the court for permission to starve and dehydrate Gary Harvey wasn't an attempt on his life?

Perhaps Bishop Clark should look into this further.

Margaret said...

A Catholic hospital? A Catholic hospital who claims to honor and cherish the santacy of life is treating Gary Harvey this way? Shame on them. I am shocked and very disappointed.

Patti said...

No wonder people are falling away from the Catholic Church...apparently, they don't practice what they preach!

Mark said...

Right on, Tim. Bishop Clark should have leaded straight for the confessional.

Kathleen said...

Thank you for being there to support Gary and Sara Harvey, NASGA. I will pray for Gary's return home.

Anonymous said...

Shocking!

Holly said...

I don't understand the logic of Bishop Clark stating that there has been no attempt to shorten Mr. Harvey's life.
When someone is intentionally starved to death sure seems like shortening their life to me...
WWJD