Commonwealth, Department of Public Welfare, Farview State Hospital v. Kallinger

PELLEGRINI, Judge.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Public Welfare, (Department), Farview State Hospital (Far-view), files this Request for Special Emergency Relief asking this Court for a Declaratory Judgment authorizing the involuntary administration of necessary nutrition and medi cal treatment in order to preserve the safety, health and life of Joseph Kallinger (Kallinger).

We are called upon to decide a sensitive matter which is without precedent in this Commonwealth. Joseph Kallinger wants to starve himself to death. 1 The Department, who has custody, wants to force him to…