The brother of Terri Schiavo is seeking to intervene in a case involving another patient who the state may decide is too far gone to warrant even basic care such as food and water.
An attorney for Bobby Schindler has filed with the Supreme Court of the State of New York, asking the court to allow him to serve as Guardian for Mr. Gary Harvey.
In 2006, Harvey, a Chemung County resident, was involved in a home accident, which left him with a profound brain injury. His spouse, Sara Harvey, sought guardianship only to be denied by the Chemung County Supreme Court who ultimately appointed the Chemung County Department of Social Services as Harvey’s guardian.
Since that time, Mrs. Harvey has been in a prolonged court battle with Chemung County officials and the New York State Court System.
In May 2009, the ethics committee from the hospital where Harvey was located recommended the removal of his nutrition and hydration tube, and also issued a “do-not-resuscitate order” (DNR).
According to the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network, the group Schindler established to help patients like Terri, the court denied that request. However, inexplicably, the DNR stayed in place and Mr. Harvey remains under the control of Chemung County, despite the fact that the county tried to end his life.
“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,” Schindler told LifeNews.
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Schindler said he hopes, with the court filing, that it will recognize that Mr. Harvey deserves the chance to receive aggressive therapy and rehabilitation. Schindler hopes that, given his experience with brain injured persons, he would afford Harvey the help he needs in the hopes to significantly improve his quality of life.
The Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network was established in 2005 to protect the rights of the medically vulnerable.
