“Condemned to Die – The Real Death Squad”

July 8^th update on my, elderly, father, William L. Morris (by Barbara Morris).

The Howard County, Maryland, Office on Aging continues to play “God” with my father’s life. After I posted my article on the neglect and abuse my parents have suffered, under the control of caseworker, Ofelia Ross, the Office on Aging put my parents in the hands of another caseworker, Marcia Soergel. As I explained, in that posting, my father had a massive heart attack in February 2009 as a, direct, result of abuse under “guardianship”.

Having survived the heart attack, 16 months, my father was admitted to Howard County General Hospital with shortness of breath and pulmonary edema, the night of June 8^th. Last week, on June 29^th, I posted that hospital staff recommended a feeding tube but that the Office on Aging intended to petition the court to, not only, withhold and withdraw treatment, but to deny him the feeding tube. A hearing was expedited to July 1^st.

As it turns out, my father, no longer, needs a feeding tube and is able to eat and drink, by mouth. The details surrounding feeding and hydration are significant, as are the continued efforts by the Howard County Office on Aging caseworker, Marcia Soergel to facility life-ending protocol, for my father. It is important to note that my father was moved out of ICU and had become, relatively, stable, i.e. no major setbacks, for two full weeks, before he was discharged from Howard County General Hospital.

While in ICU my father received a “swallow test” which he, allegedly, failed. However, the NPO order (no food or fluids, by mouth) was applied inconsistently. Initially, several nurses gave him thickened fluids for thirst. The hydration ceased, yet, in spite of the order, my father was given his meds orally (pills crushed in apple sauce or thickened beverage). This continued for over a week, until the Thursday, July 1^st hearing. In a significant reversal, Judge Timothy J. McCrone ordered that my father was to be given food and hydration by mouth. Within a 24-hour period my father went from a hospital order for no food or fluids, by mouth, to pureed foods, to soften foods. His fluids, still, need to be thickened (to prevent aspiration), and, in the hospital, he was to have as much as he wanted. The only problem occurred when a sitter (ordered, during the final week, by the Office on Aging caseworker) gave my father water which was not appropriately, thickened.

On July 2^nd I spoke with the supervising doctor and asked what protocol was, still, required. The doctor, immediately, ordered the diet upgraded to “soft”, the I.V. feeding/hydration removed, and the catheter removed. I, also, requested a physical therapy examination. The doctor said he would order that, as well. Within hours, I learned that the caseworker, Marcia Soergel, was trying to rush my father out of the hospital, that same day, into hospice. With the holiday weekend, she was not able to succeed in that transfer until Sunday evening, July 4^th.

Meanwhile, my father had a physical therapy examination on Saturday, July 3^rd, which he passed with flying colors. He had been in the hospital bed for over three weeks, but was able, with assistance, to get out of bed using a walker, walk to the bathroom, use the toilet and return to the room to sit in a chair for over two hours. The physical therapist, not only, deemed him, fully, qualified for physical therapy, but expressed it with great enthusiasm. It begs the question as to why Marcia Soergel wanted my father rushed out of the hospital, so, quickly. Had she succeeded in moving him on Friday, I would not have known the positive results of my father’s physical therapy examination.

Although, my father has a weak heart and is not a candidate for heart surgery he passed a physical therapy examination with flying colors. He was reinstated food and hydration by mouth. Yet, he was transferred on Sunday evening (July 4^th) to a hospice in Towson, Maryland. (Two other hospice facilities on the “consideration list” did not deem my father appropriate for their facilities. He is not, sufficiently, near death’s door.) So, why was my father transferred to a hospice center instead of a rehabilitation center?

I went to the hospice facility, the next day, and it was most fortunate that I did. I arrived around noon. As I got off the elevator, I heard my father crying out, “Water! Water! Water!” I didn’t need a room number to find him. I went into his room to find a lunch tray, sitting on a cart by the wall, and no caregiver in sight. He had been ordered a “Pleasure” diet, i.e. a regular meal, not one softened to accommodate his needs. Most importantly, the water and lemonade on the tray were not thickened. Had he been given the fluids, he could, easily, have taken them into his lungs and aspirated.

I, immediately, located hospice staff to remedy the situation. The nurse brought a prepackaged thickened beverage, instead of water, as requested. I explained to her that when my father wants water, another beverage will not suffice. I, also, explained to her that he needs water, with the thickening agent added. At first, she looked at me, as if she had no idea what I was talking about. Fortunately, a caregiver was present and assisted in explaining what was needed. It took another 20 minutes, while my father continued begging for water, but, a small container of the thickening agent, finally, arrived.

Needless to say, the Howard County Office on Aging caseworker had not assured that this crucial protocol was being administered. As with so many other events, over the last four years, it is my actions, not the caseworker’s, that are those of a good guardian, not to mention that my efforts, for my parents, are life affirming.

Just as crucial, to my father’s well being, are his mental and emotional states. He is, once again, traumatized. He begged me, repeatedly, to stay with him. (This was the never-ending cry, for three years, in assisted living.) I asked if he is afraid. He nodded his head, “Yes”. He said he is afraid that he is dying. And, now, again, he is separated from his family, but with the, additional, separation from his wife. [My mother, Ada Morris, remains at Pfefferkorn Assisted Living (facility issues, also, addressed in my document of neglect and abuse) with Alzheimer’s, yet, now, without her husband, the only person, who, there, gave her connectivity to her life.]

Concerned about other protocol, I asked the hospice doctor about physical therapy and told him of the positive results from the hospital. This doctor stated that, not only, does the hospice not provide physical therapy, but since my father’s heart is weak, physical therapy would be “detrimental” to him. The alternative is that they will “keep him comfortable until…”. I responded that I would rather my father have a heart attack from physical exertion than to be laying in a bed, in a negative mental state and traumatized by isolation from his wife and family, as he realizes he is being left to die, and without any activities to support a positive mental state.

As with others, in this four year, saga, I have to question motives. The hospice had one bed open. What is that worth? Why would positive physical therapy results at the hospital not be considered of value at hospice, in fact, completely, contradicted by the hospice doctor? It appears to be, yet, another, conflict of interest for the hospice to recommend, otherwise, they would sacrifice the income. And, once again, the Office on Aging caseworker is being supported with their agenda.

Again, it is important to reiterate that the Office on Aging has spent all of my parents’ money (an estate worth, approximately, $450,000, in four years). My parents’ names are on the Medicaid waiting list, but it is not, yet, available. The result; the Howard County Office on Aging has no motivation to keep my father alive. The pattern of actions by the Howard County Office on Aging, now with caseworker, Marcia Soergel, is, consistently, attempting life-ending protocol for my father. After my father, allegedly, failed a “swallow test”, the Office on Aging expedited a court hearing, with the intention of requesting the withholding of a feeding tube, although it was supported and recommended by the supervising doctor, who informed the family of his recommendations, on Saturday, June 26^th.

Now, the Office on Aging is ignoring the positive physical therapy results, from the hospital and is denying my father, further, physical therapy. As far as I know, there are no plans to get my father out of bed; even to sit in a chair, as had been done, on several occasions, at Howard County General Hospital. As of Wednesday, July 7^th, just three mornings after his hospice admission, I learned that my father had a difficult night and had been sedated. Further, I was informed that he is, no longer, being provided food or fluid. Although the court hearing resulted in a reversal, for food and fluid intake, at the hospital, is it being handled, otherwise, in hospice? Again, the efforts are towards life-ending protocol. Is it because the judge signed an order to “Withhold and Withdraw” treatment? Does “withhold and withdraw” of treatment allow interpretation to include “withholding” food and fluids? Is the food and fluids order being ignored by the hospice doctor? Is it acceptable that sedation, instead of life affirming activities, such as physical therapy, is administered at hospice, especially, considering the physical therapy examination results, just, four days, earlier? Is isolation from his wife, and a more normal family environment, even, ethical when the resulting trauma causes the “need” for sedation?

These events support all that I have documented and posted, including my recent posting, “Intent to Murder by the Howard County, Maryland, Office on Aging.” AGAIN, I NEED YOUR HELP. Please, email Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley at governor@gov.state.md.us. And, as time is of the essence, please, also, call the Howard County Circuit Court Administrative Judge Diane Leasure and presiding Judge Timothy J. McCrone at (410) 313-2111 or 1-888-313-0197 (toll free) and request that life affirming actions be granted my father, including an order that he be moved, immediately, out of hospice and into a rehabilitation center, where he will be provided physical therapy, in efforts to return him to living with his wife. I would be grateful if phone calls are backed up with a written request, and those who are not able to call, please, write the judges c/o Howard County Circuit Court, 8360 Court Ave., Ellicott City, MD 21043.

Again, for more history, do a “google” search with “Neglect and Abuse of William and Ada Morris under Guardianship”. The foundation of corruption, behind the abuse, can be found by adding “Racketeering Scheme Open Letter to Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley”. My third document “Intent to Murder, by the Howard County, Maryland, Office on Aging” provides the, recent, background for my father, William Morris.

Once again, to drive the internet machine, here are the names of the perpetrators and those that acquiesce: (Office on Aging Caseworker) Ofelia Ross, (Attorney) Ria Rochvarg, (Attorney) Tony/Anthony Doyle, (County Attorney) Beverly Heydon, Howard County Circuit Court judges, Judge Louis A. Becker (now recused), Judge Dennis M. Sweeney (now retired) and Administrative Judge Diane Leasure, (Additional, APS, Office on Aging and other Howard County Social Services staff) Janis DiSibio, Shareese Kess-Lewis, Debbie Beares, Peggy Rightnour, Phyllis Madachy, Susan Rosenbaum, Sue/Susan Vaeth, Charlene Gallion, and Marcia Soergel. Greedy assisted living owners who, also, participated, Carmen Collandrea and Richard Collandrea of Bryant Woods Inn Assisted Living in Columbia, Maryland, and their former “manager”, Sandra Farrow (convicted felon). Currently participating are Pfefferkorn Assisted Living (West Friendship, MD) owners, William and Elmira Singh. At the state level, acquiescing, are Secretary of Human Resources, Brenda Donald, Secretary Department of Aging, Gloria Lawlah, the Office of Health Care Quality, and Governor Martin O’Malley. For now, I will, temporarily, suspend the name of Judge Timothy J. McCrone, from this list, and give him the opportunity to turn this around.

Loving daughter of William and Ada Morris,

Barbara Morris