A California judge has ordered Etta James to undergo an independent medical evaluation after the ailing soul legend's son alleged she could be in "very serious danger" if she is left under the care of her current live-in doctor.
The At Last singer is currently being cared for by Dr. Elaine James and a team of nurses at her home for dementia, leukaemia and other problems.
Her son Donto's lawyer, James E. Deering, Jr., appeared at a hearing on Thursday (24Feb11) to raise concerns about her healthcare, claiming Dr. James had fitted the star with feeding tubes at her home - a procedure he insists should have been performed at a hospital.
Judge Thomas Cahraman then agreed for a court-appointed attorney to organise an independent physician to examine James and review her medical needs.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Dr. James revealed she fully supported the judge's decision, claiming the singer is "not an easy patient".
She told reporters, "He can have 10 examiners, he can have 20 physicians to come in that house to perform the duties I do. I have a list of 23 medical sub-specialties that I have had to treat her for. She is not an easy patient. I have saved her several times. Eventually she will die with something, but it will not be with my help."
Last month (Jan11), Judge Cahraman granted James' husband Artis Mills access to $60,000 (£40,000) of the ailing star's money to cover her medical costs.