Chapter 15 - DR. HOLLOWAY
My father’s oncologist, Dr. Peter Holloway, became important.
Not because he could certify every family decision.
Because Constance’s defense depended on cognition.
Was Anton competent during his final months?
Dr. Holloway was careful.
“Competence is task-specific and ultimately legal in some contexts. Clinically, Mr. Caradonna remained oriented and capable of complex conversation through most of his illness.”
Pain medication?
“Yes.”
Delirium?
“Two documented short episodes during hospitalization related to infection and medication adjustment.”
Were archive documents signed during those episodes?
No.
The revocation document was signed three weeks after the second episode, during an outpatient period.
Nursing notes:
Alert.
Oriented.
Discussed medication accurately.
Reviewed legal documents with counsel.
No evidence of delirium.
The notary remembered him.
“He made me explain why I needed his ID when everybody in the building knew who he was.”
That sounded like Dad.
Constance’s claim that illness invalidated his views weakened.
May you like
Not every late-life statement became sacred.
Still, his explicit revocation was deliberate.
