Judge Allows Casey Kasem's Daughter to End Life Support of the Ailing Star

A Los Angeles judge reversed his decision on Wednesday, giving Casey Kasem's daughter Kerri the authority to implement end-of-life measures for the critically ill star, CNN reports. In accordance with Kerri Kasem's wishes, doctors will no longer provide infusions of water, food and medicine.

To continue forcing artificial nutrition and hydration would "at best prolong the dying process for him and will certainly add suffering to an already terribly uncomfortable dying process," Kerri's lawyer, Troy Martin, said.

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"The court's decision today upheld our father's explicit wishes as expressed by him in his health directive," Kerri said in a statement after the hearing. Kasem's daughter was referring to a directive the radio and television icon signed in 2007 saying he wouldn't want to be kept alive if it "would result in a mere biological existence, devoid of cognitive function, with no reasonable hope for normal functioning."

However, an attorney for Kasem's wife, Jean Kasem, criticized the judge's ruling, saying it was "the functional equivalent of a death sentence."

Since Oct. 2013, Jean Kasem has been involved in legal disputes with three children from Kasem's first marriage, Kerri, Julie and Mike. Jean repeatedly blocked the children from visiting their father and in turn was accused of "keeping [Kasem] prisoner.]"

Kasem, who suffers from Parkinson's Disease, was admitted to a Washington State hospital on Sunday due to a sepsis from a pressure ulcer. According to Kerri's lawyer, he's also ailing from dementia.