WHO: ADF-allied attorney Joel Kirkpatrick
WHAT: Available for media interviews after hearing in In re: Lavers
WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 25, immediately following hearing, which begins at 9:30 a.m. EST
WHERE: Lucas County Probate Court, 700 Adams St., Lucas County Court House, Suite 200, Toledo
TOLEDO, Ohio — Alliance Defense Fund allied attorney Joel Kirkpatrick will be available for media interviews following his arguments Tuesday asking a court to prevent the transfer of guardianship over a disabled woman from her husband to her sister, who has indicated she might allow her to die. Kirkpatrick and other ADF-allied attorneys represent Robert Lavers in a lawsuit which seeks to keep his wife, Heather Lavers, alive.
“Everyone deserves a chance to recover,” said Kirkpatrick. “Becoming seriously disabled shouldn’t be a death sentence, especially when a caring husband wishes to preserve the life of his beloved wife. There’s no reason to take guardianship away from Heather’s own husband, who loves her.”
Heather Lavers went into a coma after suffering a heart attack in September and had been receiving medical care--including nutrition and hydration--at a Florida hospital not far from her and her husband’s home. Robert Lavers later agreed to the request of Heather’s sister, Heidi Kaczala, that she be moved to Ohio where she could receive better medical care and be close to her family. He moved to Ohio when his wife was transferred to a Toledo hospital.
After the transfer, Kaczala applied to be appointed as her sister’s legal guardian. At that time, Kaczala did not agree with Robert Lavers that his wife should be kept alive because she believed that her sister would not want to live in her current condition. For that reason, Kaczala indicated to Robert Lavers that she would consider the option of withdrawing life-sustaining care, including food and water tubes, if given guardianship.
A fact sheet on the lawsuit, In re: Lavers, is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/LaversFactSheet.pdf.
ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith. Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.
www.telladf.org