Kasem children seek control of his health care

[October 09, 2013]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The three adult children of radio host Casey Kasem have filed a legal petition to gain control of his health care.

The filing says Kasem is suffering from advanced Parkinson's disease and is being isolated from his children, friends and family members by his wife.

The petition for conservatorship filed Monday brought a long-running family feud into the courts. The applicants, Julie, Kerri and Mike Kasem, contend that Kasem's wife Jean refuses to tell them the name of their father's primary care physician and they are unable to check on his condition.

Julie Kasem, who has a master's degree in medicine, and her husband, Dr. Jamil Aboulhosn, presented papers signed by her father in 2007 giving them power of attorney over his health care in the event he was unable to make such decisions himself.

But they said they are unable to fulfill their duties because Jean Kasem, his wife of 30 years, refuses to provide access to Kasem or the name of his doctor.

Attempts to reach Jean Kasem were unsuccessful.

The 81-year-old Kasem, who gained fame with his radio music countdown shows, "American Top 40" and "Casey's Top 40," was also the voice of Shaggy in the cartoon "Scooby Doo."

The court petition says he may have early onset Parkinson's dementia.

"The proposed conservatee has the ability to shuffle short distances, but is mainly bedridden and requires the assistance of a wheelchair to move any distance," the court papers state.

The filing asks that Jean Kasem allow the Kasem family to visit and carry out the directives of the 2007 health care authorization.

The court papers say Julie Kasem has extensive experience in the care of aging parents and worked for five years caring for terminally ill veterans. Her husband is a doctor who specializes in cardiovascular medicine.

Attorney Andrew N. Katzenstein, who represents the children, said he could not comment.

[Associated Press; By LINDA DEUTSCH]

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