>> Matt: NOW TO A NEWS 6 FOLLOW-UP. FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS, THE
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN
INVESTIGATING A STATE-APPOINTED
GUARDIAN WHO RESIGNED FROM HER
DUTIES THIS SUMMER.
SHE ADMITTED TO PLACING A DO NOT
RESUSCITATE ORDER ON A LOCAL MAN
WHO DIDN’T WANT ONE.
>> Lisa: THE MAN DIED IN A TAMPA
HOSPITAL AFTER CAREGIVERS WERE
PREVENTED FROM PERFORMING
LIFE-SAVING MEASURES.
ADRIANA EVASHINSKI IS FOLLOWING
THE STORY FOR US AND WE’RE
FINALLY HEARING FROM A LOCAL
GUARDIAN ABOUT WHAT REALLY
HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES.
>> Julie: YES, FOR WEEKS LOCAL
GUARDIANS HAVE BEEN KEEPING
SILENT ABOUT THE REBECCA FURLEY
CASES AND ABOUT WHAT REALLY
HAPPENS WHEN THEY’RE ASSIGNED A
GUARDIANSHIP.
TONIGHT, ONLY ON NEWS 6, ONE
FINALLY BREAKS HER SILENCE.
>> IT’S JUST A PICTURE OF OUR
HOLIDAY PARTY WE HAD.
>> Reporter: FOR CLOSE TO 30
YEARS, TERESA BARTON HAS BEEN
HANDLING THE FINANCIAL AND
MEDICAL AFFAIRS OF FLORIDIANS IN
HER OFFICE, MANY WHO ARE
INCAPACITATED FROM THE STATE.
>> Reporter: IN THOSE 30 YEARS,
HOW MANY HAVE YOU HELPED?
>> HUNDREDS.
MANY HUNDREDS.
>> Reporter: EVEN SHE AS A
PROFESSIONAL GUARDIAN WAS
SURPRISED TO HEAR JUST HOW MANY
CASES FORMER CENTRAL FLORIDA
GUARDIAN REBECCA FURLEY WAS
HANDLING.
>> GUARDIANSHIP SHOULDN’T HAPPEN
UNLESS IT’S REALLY NEEDED.P>> Re
FURLEY MANAGED THE AFFAIRS OF
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN SEVERAL
COUNTIES BEFORE SHE VOLUNTARILY
RESIGNED AS A PUBLIC AND
PROFESSIONAL GUARDIAN AND BEFORE
SHE BECAME THE FOCUS OF THE
STATE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
HOW COULD SHE HAVE ENDED UP WITH
SO MANY CASES?
>> BECAUSE SHE WAS ANSWERING THE
CALL, BECAUSE SHE WAS COMING
WHEN THEY NEEDED HER.
>> Reporter: BARTON SAID SHE WAS
EVEN MORE SURPRISED WHEN SHE
LEARNED FURLEY REPORTEDLY SIGNED
DO NOT RESUSCITATE ORDERS
AGAINST THE WISHES OF MANY OF
HER CLIENTS AND WITHOUT THE
COURT’S CONSENT.
>> I DON’T KNOW WHY THAT
HAPPENED.
IT SEEMS VERY ODD TO ME.
>> Reporter: AND FURLEY IS
HEALTH $4 MILLION OVER A 10-YEAR
SPAN.
SHE SAID SHE’S NOT SURPRISED
ABOUT THAT.
>> THE HOSPITAL IS IN A CORNER.
THERE’S NOT A SOLUTION.
>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THAT’S WHY
HOSPITALS LIKE ADVENT HEALTH CAN
GET STUCK PAYING FOR SERVICES BY
SOME OF THEIR PATIENTS WHICH
CREATES AN ETHICAL DILEMMA AND
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST FOR THE
HOSPITAL AND THE GUARDIAN ALIKE.
>> WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING
FOR THE CLIENT
>> IT’S NOT A GOOD WAY TO DO
THIS.
HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM EXISTS.
>> Reporter: IT’S BECAUSE MOST
PEOPLE RUN OUT OF MONEY QUICKLY,
SINCE LONG-TERM CARE AND NURSING
HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING
FACILITIES CAN COST THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS OF MONEY A MONTH?
>> UNLESS THAT CLIENT HAS OVER
$5,000 A MONTH IN INCOME,
THERE’S NO WAY FOR THE
PROFESSIONAL GUARDIAN TO BE
PAID.
THERE’S NO DOLLARS.
>> Reporter: NOT ONLY THAT, MANY
GUARDIANS FACE ANGRY CLIENTS AND
FAMILY MEMBERS WHO DON’T WANT
THEIR SERVICES TO CLIENTS WHO
HAVE NO ADVANCED DIRECTIVE, NO
WILLS, NO FAMILY, NO MONEY.
>> MANY OF OUR GUARDIANSHIP
CASES ARE IN TERRIBLE
RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE THEY DON’T
WANT THE COURT TO TAKE OVER
THEIR LIVES.
SO IT’S REALLY TOUGH.
>> Reporter: SHE WOULD LIKE TO
SEE MORE PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND
NON-PROFITS AND CHURCHES WORK
TOGETHER TO CREATE A FUND TO
HELP FLORIDIANS PAY FOR
GUARDIANS.
SHE’S ANXIOUS TO SEE THE OUTCOME
OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF
REBECCA FURLEY.
>> Matt: SPEAKING OF THAT, IT
WAS IN JULY THE FDLE ANNOUNCED
THIS INVESTIGATION.
WE’RE STILL WAITING TO HEAR IF
ANY CHARGES WILL BE FILED.
>> Reporter: STILL NO CHARGES.
IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE.
YOU MAY REMEMBER BACK IN AUGUST,
STATE INVESTIGATORS RAIDED
FURLEY’S ORLANDO OFFICE AND
FOUND NINE URNS FILLED WITH
CREMATED REMAINS.
COMING UP AT 7:00, BARTON
EXPLAINS WHY THAT’S NOT REALLY
UNUSUAL.
>> Lisa: THAT IS SHOCKING FOR SO
MANY PEOPLE TO HEAR THAT.
THANK YOU.
TO SEE A TIMELINE OF THE
INVESTIGATION INTO THE STATE
GUARDIANSHIP SYSTEM, AND INTO
REBECCA FURLEY, YOU CAN HEAD TO