It's a custody battle that rages on in Horseheads. Sara Harvey is fighting to be the guardian of her husband, Gary, who has been in a vegetative state since 2006. But a judge has ruled she is unfit to take care of him properly. Sara says on May 29th of this year, the county and the ethics committee at St. Josephs Hospital decided to end Gary's life by removing his feeding tube.
"The doctors consulted and discussed what his medical needs were and what course of procedure would be most appropriate given his very severe needs and they came out with a course of action," said [Chemung County Attorney] Maggs.
Sara says she was able to get the decision overturned but fears that it may happen again. She wants to care for Gary herself at their home and she has everything he needs to do so.
"I want my husband home for the holidays. He's a veteran. He's fought for freedom and he's denied his freedom," she said.
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Horseheads Woman Battling for Guardianship of Vegetative Husband
The County screwed up; they're unfit!
ReplyDeleteThis is a sad story. There are many veterans in guardianship. I've heard that the VA even takes their SS $$$.
ReplyDeleteSo, are you saying the doctors wanted to kill Gary Harvey, Mr. Maggs?
ReplyDeleteThe doctor's whose oath is to "do no harm"???
They're the culprits???
Sara Harvey makes a valid point - her husband fought for freedom and now he is denied.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that tragically ironic?
The judge's ruling that Sara Harvey would not be her husband's guardian came at the inception of the guardianship.
ReplyDeleteIt's nearly four years later and the tables have turned.
I would think that a guardian who tried to kill his/her ward would not be fit. Chemung County tried to kill Gary Harvey. You can say it in nicer terms, but starving and dehydrating someone to death is killing them.
Now who is unfit, judge? The guardian who tried to kill Gary Harvey or Gary Harvey's wife who saved his life?
It should be so simple. What would Gary Harvey choose were he able to speak for himself?
ReplyDeleteWell we don't know. He can't speak.
So, next let's look at what any of us would choose. Would we chose to languish in a nursing home, confined to a stark institution? Or would we choose to come home to our own home, our own things, and our own loved ones?
Well I think most of us would choose home.
If only the judge would order the guardian to assume Gary Harvey's circumstances for a few days...be stuck in the hospital with strangers all around...be completely helpless and at the mercy of everyone with no one to speak up and be a protector.
ReplyDeleteIf only Chemung County were forced to have a little of their own medicine for a change.