Open Letter to Mr. Robert Butterworth and the Fla.Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Dear Secretary Robert A Butterworth;
Dept of Children and Families
1317 Winewood Blvd 1 #202
Tallahassee,Florida 32399-0700

Dear Secretary Butterworth;

We read with interest your new policy of openness within the Florida Division of Florida and Families;

As the family of abused elders statewide and singularly Dr. A.J.Fernandez whose death was precipitated on January 9th, two years ago by the by the forced separation from his wife of 58 years.

We believed our parents paid their dues and as their family we believed we are entitled to some closure on this sad,sad chapter of the nightmare of what were to be my parents golden years together traveling and enjoying the culmination of Dr. Fernandez and Clara life and dedication to public service together, in travel and in leisure a future that was truncated by their illegal separation and liquidation of their assets.

As Americans we believe we are entitled to some answers so that we might turn the chapter on this un finished story.

Why was Clara Fernandez separated from her husband during the last year of his life ? On what legal grounds?

Why did the Florida DCF, blink, nod and look the other way, while Dr's Fernandez's long standing powers of attorneys,surrogate Proxy powers, and letter of instruction regarding his wife were ignored?

Do we live in a nation of laws, or do we? Which is it?

Even though every legal organization that purports to protect our elders, qualify isolation as elder abuse, why was no action taken to re unite Dr. Fernandez and his wife before she was led around four (4) counties on a wild goose chase while her assets were being vacated?

Why did Dr. Fernandez's cries for help to try to save his wife from isolation,incapacitation,and the financial orgy that followed fall on deaf ears?

Why was no action taken, or interviews done or legal protocol followed when separating two long standing legally married couples and no effort to return them to the protection of their home and to her lawfully wedded husband of 58 years before she was left to her own devices to become incapacitated and paralyzed from neglect result of being overmedicated and left alone in hotel rooms?

If we were talking about the isolation,doping and neglect of children, we would demand immediate action ... so why is it unacceptable for a seven-year-old, but acceptable for a older person?"

It's understandable why children get all the media attention and when one falls through the cracks is cause for concern, but Mr. Butterworth older people deserve attention too! and when they start falling through the cracks, it's time to take notice!

Mr. Butterworth elder victims in Florida are coming foward by the bushels and they have suffered plenty and as citizens gowing older we are concerned that the problems be addressed and the system fixed.

Please bear us the closure, Our family deserves it , Stone silence will not do, we have done with the stone silence for way too long.

Mr. Butterworth, It's time to break the silence, for our sakes and the sakes of those that come after us.

Ray Fernandez
Dr. Fernandez POA 2000
Clara G. Fernandez POA 2000
Health Surrogate and proxy
Trustee and principal caregiver 1999