Celebrating 50 years of growth with the Detroit Jewish Community
HE JEWISH NEWS
9 KISLEV 5753/DECEMBER 4, 1992
Home Gets Reprieve
Federation, JHA plan for future as
Borman Hall passes state inspection.
KIMBERLY LIFTON STAFF WRITER
is
community in-
vestment into the
Jewish Home for
Aged's Borman
Hall paid off when
state investigators
late Wednesday
recommended the
facility remain
open.
"This is a rebirth for the
Jewish Home for Aged," said
Carol Rosenberg, JHA director of
community relations and devel-
opment. "We have everyone's at-
tention, and the appropriate
community leaders are available
now to make things happen."
At a meeting following three
days of surveying Borman Hall,
State Investigative Team Leader
Eileen Colgan removed 45 of 68
code violations, including four of
the highest level health viola-
tions that could have resulted in
closing the Seven Mile Road fa-
cility.
very short time. We are very im-
pressed," said surveyor Lorraine
Woodard. "I am going home feel-
ing good. We went home last time
not feeling good."
Since August, Borman twice
has failed the state survey. In
September, inspectors found four
of the highest level violations,
leaving the fate of this Jewish in-
stitution in the hands of the gov-
ernment. After two failed
reviews, one serious violation
could have put the facility out of
business.
State inspectors began comb-
"This is a monumental job,"
Ms. Colgan said. "But you are not
out of the woods yet. It would be
easy to fall behind. As good as it
is, you are not quite there yet."
The seven-mem-
flarif
ber team of nurs-
ing, pharmaceu-
tical, nutritional,
occupational and
psychological sur-
veyors praised the
staff and Jewish
community for
their interest in
the Home's future.
The state team will
recommend to the
federal agency that
oversees nursing Borman Hall in Detroit.
homes, the Health
ing Borman on Monday, check-
Care Financing Administration,
ing
all aspects of health care at
that the 212-bed Borman Hall,
the
facility.
They watched aides
now down to 27 less serious code
dress
residents
and nurses bathe
violations, including three new
patients infected with skin dis-
ones, continue operating.
"You have learned things in a BORMAN page 26
Aside
BACKGROUND
Past Images
Neo-Nazis in Germany
stir emotions in Israel.
Page 33
ENTERTAINMENT
Emmy Vindication
Curt Sobel finds Oak Park
and Hollywood can mix.
Page 71
CLOSE-UP
Defending Dr. Death
Attorney Michael Alan Schwartz prepares for a
constitutional battle in his defense of Dr. Jack Kevorkian.
KIMBERLY LIFTON STAFF WRITER
M
ichigan senators this
week were expected to
ban doctor-assisted sui-
cide, leaving the state's
six Jewish legislators (three sen-
ators and three representatives)
in the minority voting bloc.
Reps. Maxine Berman, (D-
Southfield); Burton Leland, (D-
Detroit); and David Gubow,
(D-Huntington Woods); and Sens.
David Honigman, (R-West
Bloomfield); Lana Pollack, (D-
Ann Arbor); and Jack Faxon, (D-
Farmington Hills), all voted
against the bill that essentially
puts Dr. Jack Kevorkian out of
the death business while a corn-
mission studies the issue.
The Senate decision, which fol-
lows a similar House vote to ban
assisted suicide, was made quick-
ly after last week's Kevorkian-
assisted suicide. Though the
Jewish legislators do not condone
what they call Dr. Kevorkian's
sensational behavior, they say
the decision to live or die is per-
sonal and that regulations, not a
ban, are needed.
"If this were (television show
doctor) Marcus Welby, no one
would question it," Ms. Berman
said. "We need limits, but where
do you draw the line? Whom do
you limit it to? What about a per-
son who can't do anything with-
out assistance but could linger
on for 10 to 20 years? There are
a lot of ifs."
Ms. Berman, who spoke
against the ban on the House
floor, said no one should play
God. But, she warned, "You
DR. DEATH page 28
A Chanukah party brought together
a flourishing Jewish community
in Grosse Pointe.
East Side
Story
Page 22
OWN WORDS
Sharon Schaffer
Rediscovering Judaism
changed her life.
Page 97
Contents on page 5