Judge rules Casey Kasem can stop food and water
A judge has given Casy Kasem's daughter the authority to withhold food, fluids and medication from him.
Yesterday's ruling is a reversal from an earlier decision made on Monday when the judge had ordered the reinstatement of feeding and other care.
Kasem's daughter had implemented the end-of-life measures on June 6.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Daniel Murphy determined that giving Kasem food and water would be detrimental to his health, agreeing with the deejay’s physicians and daughter Kerri, who is in charge of her father’s healthcare.
“Transitioning our father’s treatment to comfort-oriented care was one of the hardest decisions we’ve ever had to make,” Kasem’s children said in a statement.
The statement included part of Kasem's health directive, which stated that he desired no form of “life-sustaining procedures, including nutrition and hydration".
New York Daily News reported that Kasem's wife, Jean stormed out of the Los Angeles courtroom following the decision.
"You have blood on your hands," said Jean.
Her lawyer, Steve Haney, added: "You just imposed a death sentence."
Jean Kasem and the children of the older Kasem, including Class 95FM DJ Mike Kasem, have been in a very public feud over his care.
Judge Daniel Murphy said he revoked the earlier order after receiving medical records saying that the US Top 40 host was not repsonding to artificial nutrition and fluids, leading to painful complications.
Sources: New York Daily News, CNN, Reuters
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