Opinion ID: 2160038
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Removal of Mollie Orshansky from the Hospital

Text: On January 2, 2002, Ms. Orshansky's niece, Jane Pollack, and her nephew-in-law, Eugene Shapiro, met in Washington with Dr. Meyers and representatives of the Hospital to ask that their aunt be released into their care. They presented a health care proxy [2] that Ms. Orshansky had executed some eighteen months earlier, in July 2000. In the proxy, Ms. Orshansky appointed Ms. Pollack to be my health care agent to make any and all health care decisions for me, except to the extent that I state otherwise. The proxy stated that it shall be in effect when and if I become unable to make my own health care decisions, and shall remain in effect indefinitely unless Ms. Orshansky revoked it. Despite the presentation of this proxy, APS opposed Ms. Orshansky's release, and the Hospital refused to discharge her while its petition for the appointment of a guardian and a conservator was pending. Unable to obtain her aunt's release, Ms. Pollack extended her stay in Washington. Over the next few weeks, she lodged numerous complaints with the Hospital that her aunt was not receiving adequate care, therapy or stimulation. As a result, Ms. Pollack charged, her aunt was suffering bruises, sores and urinary tract infections, and was growing weaker and more confused every day she remained in the Hospital. On January 21, frustrated by what she perceived as the Hospital's indifference to her complaints, Ms. Pollack decided that, as her aunt's health care agent, she had to take matters into her own hands. Without telling the Hospital of her intentions, Ms. Pollack removed Ms. Orshansky and took her to New York City. From there, she called the Hospital to report what she had done.