ACW Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 http://www.theagitator.com/2009/09/11/texas-decides-elderly-couple-their-finances-now-belong-to-texas/ Awful story from Texas, where elderly couple Michael and Jean Kidd were made wards of the state of Texas, then held against their will while the state took over their finances. In November Michael fell and broke his hip. He was taken to a Plano hospital and into surgery. After a few days, the hospital called the state Adult Protective Services to report Jean had been in the waiting room for days and wasn’t eating… A judge determined the Kidds were incapacitated and unable to care for themselves. The state took over the Kidds lives, sent them to the Countryside Nursing Home in Pilot Point, and is now burning through their money to pay for their care. The state refuses to give the Kidds an accounting of how it is spending their money, the reason apparently being that because they were deemed mentally deficient, they lack standing to even ask for financial records. The couple was given a court-appointed attorney (paid for from the Kidds’ savings), but he looks to have worked all of 10 hours on their case. According to neighbors, the state has since allowed the Kidds’ home deteriorate, and didn’t even bother to lock the doors after taking the couple into custody. The local Fox affiliate reported at the end of last month that state officials were also planning to sell the couple’s home at auction. Media coverage seems to have pressured a local judge to put off the sale, at least for now.The same station reports that the judge has clarified an earlier order barring the Kidds from talking to anyone about their case, and allowing them access to their own medical records. But they’re still being kept in the nursing home, and still can’t access any record of how the state is spending their money. NOT COOL!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosperity Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 They probably were actually incapable of sustaining their own lives, but at that point, shouldn't people just be let to die? :whoknows: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnyderShrugged Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 that takes eminent domain to a whole new level! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 Yeah,I've been following this circus Makes ya wonder what's next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 What should the State have done in this situation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 12th Commandment Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 There's supposed to be an ombudsmen to look after their affairs in these situations. Somebody probably dropped the ball I guess, but I'm amazed that it got to that point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgold Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 This is actually a pretty common story. It's one of the reasons that healthcare needs to be figured out. So many families are completely bankrupted to be taken care of and so they can be taken care of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spec138 Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 My gf is from Pilot Point, didn't know they had a retirement home there :\ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnyderShrugged Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 What should the State have done in this situation? left them alone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACW Posted September 11, 2009 Author Share Posted September 11, 2009 What should the State have done in this situation?AT THE VERY VERY VERY LEAST give them access to their financial and medical records. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 left them alone? Sometimes you can't really do that. Some of use have a problem with letting mentally deficient people to die a horrible starving death in a pile of their own feces. :whoknows: By the way, the thread title is misleading (their money does not belong to Texas - it is being held in trust for them), so I kind of question the rest of the facts set forth there in that article. Awkward situation, to say the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 AT THE VERY VERY VERY LEAST give them access to their financial and medical records. I agree with that, in the abstract. I guess I'm kind of questioning the whole story right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MurrayH81 Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 1. Who decided (and who gets to decide) that two legal adults are "incapacitated" to the extent that they cannot manage for themselves? 2. How did they manage to function up to that point, own a home, and accumulate savings if they were "mentally incapacitated? 3. How does the state justify not providing any accounting for using other people's money? 4. How does the state issue a gag order for anyone under these circumstances? 5. Why would any citizen elect to live under laws of this kind? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 1. Who decided (and who gets to decide) that two legal adults are "incapacitated" to the extent that they cannot manage for themselves? Umm, a judge? 2. How did they manage to function up to that point, own a home, and accumulate savings if they were "mentally incapacitated? I doubt they were elderly and senile their whole lives. 3. How does the state justify not providing any accounting for using other people's money? I'm doubting this part of the story. 4. How does the state issue a gag order for anyone under these circumstances? I'm REALLY doubting this part of the story. 5. Why would any citizen elect to live under laws of this kind? On that we agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 left them alone? To starve to death in the ER waiting room? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickalino Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 My first thought, when I saw the subject line was, "I hope this isn't about twa and his wife". But now that he responded, I guess it's not him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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