Chapter 5 - RIDGEWAY REHABILITATION
Ridgeway was not a bad facility.
That surprised me.
Private rehabilitation hospital.
Accredited.
Good orthopedic program.
Caleb had told me:
“It’s cheaper.”
Hospital financial services disagreed.
My insurer had already authorized another five inpatient days and would likely approve acute rehabilitation later.
Ridgeway would not necessarily cost less.
“Then why is he obsessed with moving me?”
The financial counselor shrugged.
“Not my lane.”
Maya’s lane.
She requested the Ridgeway referral.
Ordering provider:
Dr. Thomas Keene.
I did not know him.
He was a physician contracted with Ridgeway.
How had he evaluated me?
He hadn’t.
Referral stated:
Transfer requested by spouse under durable healthcare power of attorney due patient’s fluctuating capacity.
My skin went cold.
“What power of attorney?”
Maya looked at me.
“You don’t know?”
“No.”
A copy arrived.
DURABLE HEALTHCARE POWER OF ATTORNEY.
Signed:
Rebecca Morgan.
Eighteen months earlier.
Agent:
Caleb Morgan.
I stared at my signature.
It resembled mine.
Maybe was mine.
Then memory.
We had done estate planning after buying our second rental property.
A stack of documents.
Wills.
Beneficiary forms.
Medical directives.
I signed.
“Could this be real?”
Maya asked.
“Maybe.”
That answer terrified me more than forgery.
Because if I had given Caleb authority legally, he might have been using something I created.
But durable healthcare powers typically activate under specified conditions.
Hospital legal reviewed.
My document required certification by two physicians that I lacked decision-making capacity.
Only one certification existed.
Signed during the first twenty-four hours after surgery while I was intubated.
Second?
Missing.
Caleb had been presenting himself as fully authorized anyway.
Not necessarily criminal.
May you like
Potentially deceptive.
Enough for the hospital to stop relying on him immediately.
