Cancer surgeon accused of exploiting relative with dementia

In the United States, a lawsuit has emerged involving Ann Marie Egloff, a well-known cancer surgeon, who is accused of manipulating her relative Jo Ann Paganetti, who was struggling with dementia, into altering her will. The controversy stemmed from Paganetti’s growing dementia, which began after a stroke in 2018. In 2018, Paganetti had been showing signs of severe cognitive decline, leading her daughter, Georgia Lee Sarah Andrews, to express concerns regarding her mother's ability to make sound decisions. Ann Marie Egloff allegedly approached Paganetti with estate planning papers while she was under medication and advised her to change her 1986 will to favor Egloff, despite objections from Paganetti’s doctors. This change determined that Paganetti's $749,000 Carnegie Hill co-op would be inherited by Egloff instead of her biological daughter Andrews, who had originally been named the beneficiary in the will. In response to these actions, Andrews filed a lawsuit on November 27, seeking to prevent Egloff from selling the co-op. The property had been put on the market shortly after the will was changed, generating immediate scrutiny. Andrews claims that throughout this process, Egloff isolated her mother from her family, impacting Paganetti’s capacity to make informed decisions. The allegations also hint at a deeper issue regarding familial bonds and the impacts of medical conditions on legal decisions. Andrews, who was adopted in 1966, had worked to develop a relationship with Paganetti despite their earlier separation. DNA tests confirmed a biological connection, but uncertainties remain about the nature of the relationship, primarily how Egloff ties into this family dynamic. As the situation develops, the lawsuit continues to shed light on ethical concerns surrounding estate planning, familial responsibilities, and mental health considerations in legal affairs.