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CBC: Casey Kasem dies after bitter family battle

Casey Kasem, the celebrated American Top 40 DJ died on June 15, 2014 at the age of 82, following a protracted dispute amongst family members about access and end-of-life care.  His death came in the context of a sad and bitter battle between his wife and his children from his first marriage.

In October 2013, Kasem’s children alleged that his wife Jean Kasem was preventing them from seeing their father. Family members and friends staged a highly publicized protest outside his California home with placards demanding that his wife allow them to see Kasem.  Kasem’s children commenced proceedings to be appointed decision-makers for their father, on the basis that his wife Jean Kasem was denying them access to their father.  That request was denied by the court, in favour of Jean’s role as decision-maker.  Matters did not subside, however, and in May 2014, his children filed a missing person’s report on the basis that they did not know where their father was.  His wife’s lawyer told the court that Kasem was no longer in the United States.  The Los Angeles judge hearing the matter ordered adult protective services and court investigators to search for Kasem.  He was subsequently located in Washington State and his daughter Kerry was appointed temporary decision-maker by the court.

A dispute then ensued amongst family members about the appropriate care for Kasem who was suffering Lewy body disease, which includes symptoms of dementia.    His children sought to have Kasem placed in comfort-oriented care, and for food, hydration and medication to be withheld while his wife wanted him to continue receiving medicine and nutrition.  In arguing the issue of end-of-life care, Kasem’s daughter relied on a health directive that provided that Kasem wanted no “life-sustaining procedures, including nutrition and hydration.”  Jean Kasem’s lawyer had argued that the health directive was out of date.  On June 9, Jean Kasem obtained an order that Kasem was to continue to receive food, water and medication.  Two days later that order was overturned by an order of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Daniel Murphy that authorized Kasem’s daughter Kerry, as decision-maker to stop artificial feeding, hydration and medication.  The judge held that continuing treatment would be “detrimental” to Kasem’s health.

Kasem was placed in comfort-oriented care and died four days later.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/casey-kasem-radio-dj-dead-at-82-1.2676253

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/casey-kasem-s-children-seek-control-of-his-health-care-1.1931284

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/casey-kasem-located-in-washington-state-1.2643648

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/casey-kasem-to-stop-receiving-food-water-as-end-of-life-care-begins-1.2672911

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