Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Schiavo Brother Tries to Save Another Life


It is very scary when a state wants to dehydrate a citizen. That happened several years ago in the Haleigh Poutre case in Massachusetts. Haleigh was a 12-year-old child abuse victim beaten viciously by her step father into unconsciousness. Within days of her injury, doctors said she would never awaken and the state immediately sought court approval to dehydrate her to death. Luckily for Haleigh, the bureaucratic requirements took enough time for her to prove her doctors dead wrong by awakening. Today, she is moving on with her life–no thanks to the state social workers who advocated for her death rather than her life until she became clearly conscious.
 
In New York, a court has removed a wife from guardianship of her apparently unconscious husband, and the court appointed guardian wants him dehydrated to death on advice of doctors. Terri Schiavo’s brother, Bobby Schindler, has stepped in and asked to be named guardian. From The Leader story:
In 2007, Sara Harvey was removed as her husband’s guardian when a judge ruled she was ill-suited to care for him and did not follow the advice of medical professionals. The county was named Gary Harvey’s guardian. In 2009, Chemung County planned to remove Gary Harvey’s feeding tube on the advice of doctors, but the move was blocked. A do-not-resuscitate order remains in place. Later in 2009, Schindler joined Sara Harvey’s cause, saying she had the right to regain guardianship of her husband and take him home to care for him there.
After filing his guardianship request, Schindler said: “I have raised the question many times, ‘How can Chemung County, guardian of Mr. Harvey, be acting in his best interest when they, in fact, tried to kill him?’ From all indications, it appears that Mr. Harvey has been warehoused and denied the opportunity to receive the care and rehabilitative services that would benefit his condition.”
I have seen cases where guardianship was removed solely because the family member wouldn’t agree to dehydrate. I don’t know if that is the case here. But even if she is unable to personally provide his care, that doesn’t mean her opinion about her husband’s continuing existence should be disregarded. As Bobby Schindler told me:
How ironic. When my sister’s husband wanted her dehydrated, we were told that spouses should decide. Now, when the spouse doesn’t want him dehydrated, her opinion apparently doesn’t matter.
Go, Bobby! Go!

Full Article & Source:
Schiavo Brother Tries to Save Another Life

Sites Sharing Press Release:
Deacon John's Space

See Also:
Schiavo's brother seeks guardianship in local case

Case continues involving guardianship of brain-injured man

Schindler's list: Terri's brother now saving others

Terri Schiavo's Brother, Bobby Schindler, Petitions Court to Intervene in Guardianship Case

Bobby Schindler Files Petition Requesting to be Gary Harvey’s Guardian

The Dictators of Non-Compassion: Gary Harvey Case and the Unexpected Twist

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Around the guardianship world and advocates alike have tried to get loved ones free for years and not successful. Most die before they get out. It is an awful life to live for those locked up and treated worse than a criminal.

I pray to God and the holy ghost that Bobby Schindler and Attorney Johnson free Gary Harvey before the same fate hits him and his family.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Wesley J.Smith for pointing to the obvious and what our twisted our society has become, or is going back to the days where women had no rights?

David said...

Funny how myths, specualtions, beliefs, half-truths, and complete lies can be accepted in our courts.

Not listening to medical advise was a reason to give guardianship to the ones who wanted to KILL Mr. Harvey.

Exactly what was the medical advice that Mrs. Harvey did not listen to? If she listen to those who wanted him dead, she would be a widow like all the other families who are fighting the system.

This is about Bobby Schindler making a better life for Gary Harvey. Not what Sara Harvey did or did not do. This is about what is Best for Gary Harvey.

Whole new case and a whole new set of players.

Thelma said...

The County doesn't give a damn about Gary or Sara.
Each of the players, including the judge, have a connection with or a history with the law firm repersenting the hospital.
And the judge said there was no conflict of interest? April 1, 2011 order of O'Shea.
Gimme a break!

Keith said...

Our country is doomed if something does not get done about the system. The court and our legislators are suppose to make us honest and to be the oversite, eyes and ears for the law and to uphold it on FACTS. Not favors, persinal agendas, money, power and control.

Sara Harvey said...

Wanting an independent second medical opinion for my husband that is truly independent from the county’s control and taking my husband outside for fresh air and this is a bad thing the court decided, and the attorney’s involved left out the facts that I had approval from the administrator, not the perpetuator in a complaint that stemmed from the county doctor's negligence that I fed him Jell-o that was based on speculation because of what the social worker " presumed " she saw, tell me does tooth paste, or shaving cream resemble cool whip?

Without an attorney at the most critical moment of the guardianship hearing everyone is doomed.

But, I did have an attorney who bailed just before the hearing because there was a conflict that no one bothered to mention to me and that conflict,my attorney failed to tell me he worked for the county and his boss was County Attorney Bryan Maggs. The very same attorney who stated over and over they did not want guardianship, unless the ulterior motive was the available financial resources.

The nurses that I complained about have been either fired or demoted. What does that say for their credibility? This must raise some merit to my complaints.


Looks to me like the government wants control of every aspect of my husband's life including his wife, me.

Thank you Wesley J. Smith for bringing out that life matters.

StandUp said...

I continue to be impressed with Bobby Schindler, the man. What a wonderful thing he is doing for Gary Harvey.

Anonymous said...


Were the right questions asked during this hearing by Mr.
Harvey’s attorney Kevin Moshier?

Did he ask this social worker if she actually saw Mrs. Harvey put the cool whip or jell-o in his mouth? There is so many tales out there that it was jell-o , then cool whip , which was it ? What color was the Jell-o? Did he ask where the Jell-o went if Mr. Harvey cannot swallow?

Don't most hospitals or nursing homes promote family involvement and to take your loved outside or a change of scenery?

Did Mr. Moshier represent Mr. Harvey at all? I am just asking…

Anonymous said...

Is it really in Mr. Harvey's best interest to keep him isolated from his wife, family , friends and loved ones or maybe it is backwards and it is in the county et al's best ineterst to keep family and love ones away...

What is it they hiding? or is it a way to control you?

It is like this all over our country, Illionis is a great one for that.

helensniece said...

Wisconsin Victim Helen Fabis died from starvation and dehydration during a temporary guardianship on April 30, 2001 in an Illinois nursing home facility. She was able to eat and drink yet she was denied nourishment and comfort care. She was put into hospice program where she was left to die slumped over in her wheelchair pleading with me for a drink of water. Important issue: the nursing home records are deceptive not indicating the pain and suffering she was forced to endure for several days, the records are written to show she died peacefully in her sleep. This is a pattern of homicide under color of law. A shameful disgrace of disregard and disrespect for an innocent victim, the taking of a life that is with me every day and night of my life. Beware: we are next.

Finny said...

I agree about the not following advice thing. First of all, doctors aren't divine beings. They make mistakes, alot of them. And their mistakes, because of the nature of their business, are often fatal.

Not following doctor's advice may also mean she asked to get a second opinon before making any decision.

And it really doesn't matter anyway. This petition gives Bobby Schindler all the decision-making powers, not Gary's wife.

Dana said...

Good for you, Haleigh Poutre. You're an example to never give up. And thank you to the social sworkers who advocated for her.

What Mr. Shindler said about the irony between his sister's case and Gary Harvey's case is absolutely true and crystal clear.

Jessica said...

We are praying for you, Gary!

Betty said...

Terri is smiling at you Bobby!

Anonymous said...

Why is it taking so long, as the condition of the patient demands immediate attention.

That seems to be an indication of attempting to circumvent the application for changing guardian