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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-1071 Orphans IN RE: : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF : CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA : ORPHANS' COURT DIVISION PAUL E. HAIGH : No. 21-01-1071 IN RE: PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF EMERGENCY GUARDIAN BEFORE OLER, J. ORDER OF COURT AND NOW, this 26th day of November, 2001, upon consideration of the Emergency Petition for Temporary Guardianship of the Person with respect to Paul E. Haigh, and following a hearing held on this date, it is determined that Paul E. Haigh continues to be an incapacitated person, as determined in the Order of Court dated November 21, 2001, and the order thus entered is confirmed and ratified; provided, that Susan K. Potts, the niece of the incapacitated person, is substituted as emergency guardian of the person of Paul E. Haigh for the purpose of providing medical decisions on behalf of Mr. Haigh. In all other respects, the Order of Court dated November 21, 2001, shall remain in full force and effect. No bond shall be required of the guardian herein appointed. By the Court, J~WesleY O1~/ Jr%: ~. Joseph A. Ricci, Esquire For Petitioner Carlisle Regional Medical Center Gregory Cutler, Esquire Court-Appointed Counsel for Mr. Haigh Paul E. Haigh Carlisle Regional Medical Center 246 Parker Street Carlisle, PA 17013 Susan K. Potts 516 Ryan Drive Harrisburg, PA ~7112-2244 Court-Appointed Temporary Guardian of Person wcy IN RE: : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA : ORPHANS' COURT DIVISION PAUL E. HAIGH : No. 21-01-1071 IN RE: PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF EMERGENCY GUARDIAN BEFORE OLER, J. OPINION and ORDER OF COURT Oler, J., November 26, 2001 A{ issue in the present case is the question of the continuation of the appointment of an emergency guardian of the person for Paul E. Haigh and the question of whether Susan K. Ports, the niece of Mr. Haigh, should be substituted as the emergency guardian of his person. A hearing was held in this matter on Monday, November 26, 2001, before the undersigned judge in the hospital room of Mr. Haigh at the Carlisle Regional Medical Center, 246 Parker Street, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Present at the hearing was Mr. Haigh (albeit in a nonresponsive condition) with his Court-Appointed Counsel, Gregory Cutler, Esquire. Present on behalf of the Petitioner, Carlisle Regional Medical Center, was Joseph A. Ricci, Esquire. Also present were Mr. Haigh's niece, Susan K. Potts, and David F. Tamanini, Esquire. Based upon the evidence presented at the hearing, the following Findings of Fact, Discussion and Order of Court are made and entered: FINDINGS OF FACT 1. The allegedly incapacitated person is Paul E. Haigh, a domiciliary of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, who has resided most recently at 416 First Street, Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, 17013, and is presently a patient in the intensive care unit of the Carlisle Regional Medical Center, 246 Parker Street, Carlisle, PennsyIvania, 17013. 2. Mr. Haigh is 79 years old. 3. Petitioner is the Carlisle Regional Medical Center, 246 Parker Street, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 17013. 4. The allegedly incapacitated person, Mr. Haigh, has been diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer's type, with depressed mood and delusions, acute organic brain syndrome, and organic mental disorder dementia. 5. The prognosis with respect to these mental conditions is not favorable at this time~. 6. The allegedly incapacitated person has also been diagnosed with certain physical illnesses, including bronchiogenic carcinoma which has metastasized, and obstructive lung disease. 7. Recently, Mr. Haigh's physical conditions have deteriorated, and he is presently on a life support system. 8. As a result of Mr. Haigh's mental condition, he is an incapacitated person in the sense that his ability to receive and evaluate information effectively and communicate decisions in any way is impaired to such a significant extent that he is at this time totally unable to meet essential requirements for his physical health and safety. 9. ~ Mr. Haigh's condition is such that he lacks capacity and is in need of a guardian of his person; and a failure to make such appointment will result in irreparable harm to his person. 10. Susan K. Ports, 52, is an adult individual who is qualified to act as emergency guardian of the person of Mr. Haigh; she is Mr. Haigh's niece; her address is 516 Ryan Drive, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. 11. The foregoing Findings of Fact are made on the basis of clear and convincing evidence. DISCUSSION The provisions respecting an adjudication of incapacity have recently been amended and are contained in 20 Pa. C.S. Sections 5501 et__~_q. Petitioner has complied with these provisions, as they relate to an emergency guardianship of the person with respect to the subject of these proceedings. Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Discussion, the following Order of Court will be entered: ORDER OF COURT AND NOW, this 26th day of November, 2001, upon consideration of the Emergency Petition for Temporary Guardianship of the Person with respect to Paul E. Haigh, and following a hearing held on this date, it is determined that Paul E. Haigh continues to be an incapacitated person, as determined in the Order of Court dated November 21, 2001, and the order thus entered is confirmed and ratified; provided, that Susan K. Ports, the niece of the incapacitated person, is substituted as emergency guardian of the person of Paul E. Haigh for the purpose of providing medical decisions on behalf of Mr. Haigh. In all other respects, the Order of Court dated November 21, 2001, shall remain in full force and effect. No bond shall be required of the guardian herein appointed. By the Court, /s/ J. Wesley Oler, Jr. J. Joseph A. Ricci, Esquire For Petitioner Carlisle Regional Medical Center Gregory Cutler, Esquire Court-Appointed Counsel for Mr. Haigh