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Hi,

We are forwarding a report about Gary Harvey, a disabled veteran whose
care has been taken away from his loving wife Sara and given to
court-appointed guardians who prevent proper care and visits.

See notice below from Elaine Renoire of the National Association to Stop
Guardian Abuse NASGA
www.StopGuardianAbuse.org

This case is another example of government taking decision-making away
from those who love the patient, and giving it to those who would end
the life of the patient.

Best wishes,

If people contemplate and really see the sanctity of life, their
"quality of life" arguments fall away and they will understand that we
are here to care for each other, not to kill each other. Caring, and not
convenience, is the sign of a civilized and just society!

Preserving the original hospice mission...

Ron Panzer
for Hospice Patients Alliance
http://www.hospicepatients.org

"What I do you cannot do
but what you do, I cannot do.
The needs are great, and none of us,
including me, ever do great things.
But we can all do small things, with great love,
and together we can do something wonderful." - Mother Teresa

*************************************************

The Hospice Patients Alliance is a 501(c)(3) charitable patient advocacy
organization acting to preserve the original hospice mission and to
promote quality end-of-life services.

Many ask us "what can I do to help? The answer is that you need to get
involved, share what you know and please, support us by donating to our
nonprofit! You can donate at our secure donation page:
https://id304.securedata.net//hospicepatients/donations.html
Your support helps us help others in need.
Thank you for your continued support!

Ron is available to speak to your group. For more information about
hospice or speaking arrangements, visit Hospice Patients Alliance online
or call [616] 866-9127.

The information provided by Hospice Patients Alliance is provided in the
spirit of consumer advocacy in the belief that informed consumers of
health care are best able to access quality care. Hospice Patients
Alliance does not provide legal or medical advice. If you are seeking
legal or medical advice, then a competent and experienced attorney or
physician should be consulted.

*************************************************



Urgent request for your help from Elaine Renoire of the National
Associatoin to Stop Guardian Abuse:



Gary Harvey is a Veteran who suffered a traumatic brain injury after a
heart attack and subsequent fall down a flight of stairs.

Because he did not execute advance directives, his wife initiated
guardianship proceedings and was initially appointed her husband’s
guardian.

However, her husband received substandard and neglectful care at the
nursing home – neglect that could have caused his death. Despite Gary’s
wife, Sara’s, best efforts, the nursing home continued to ignore a
defective trach line for over two weeks. Finally, in desperation, Sara
cut the defective part of the trach line to force the nursing home to
act. She did this with full knowledge of the staff and in fact,
borrowed a pair of scissors from staff to do the cutting. (Sara’s act
did not harm her husband in any way nor distress him.)

The county reacted to Sara’s action by accusing her of attempted murder
(although charges were never filed) and used their version of events to
take control of Gary’s guardianship. Immediately, Sara was punished by
the county restricted and supervised visitation and shunting her away
from all medical information and decisions in regard to Gary’s “care”.

Last week, they called her in to inform her that they will be going to
court to get a court order to stop Gary’s nutrition and water and put
him on DNR status.

“Supporting the troops” should mean to support them when we need them as
well as when they need us. Gary Harvey needs us now.

I am asking for your support of Gary Harvey right to live. I ask you
to contact the local TV station that covered this horrific story (it ran
last nite on WENY TV – New York) and support Sara Harvey’s right to make
life and death decisions for her husband instead of court-appointed
strangers and her effort to bring him home. See:
http://www.weny.com/News-Local.asp?ARTICLE3864=9145277

The video from this broadcast is also on YouTube: We would appreciate
support at this site as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It22yZ8MYEI

A profile of Gary’s case is on the NASGA website at:
http://www.stopguardianabuse.org/garyharvey.htm. Gary is also featured
on the “Veterans in Peril” page of the website.

Time is of the essence – the county has called for an emergency court
order to withhold nutrition and water and put Gary Harvey on DNR status.

Please help Gary and Sara Harvey with your support --- and any publicity
you can offer.



Yours,

Elaine Renoire
NASGA

www.StopGuardianAbuse.org & http://NASGA-StopGuardianAbuse

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You can contact the TV station and share your support for Gary and Sara at:

WENY-TV
474 Old Ithaca Road
Horseheads, NY 14845
Phone: 607.739.3636

NEWS HOTLINE: 607.739.1412

News Fax: 607.796.6171

News Director: 607.739.3636 ext 12

News E-Mail: news36@...