Casey Kasem hospitalized in critical condition; daughter in charge of care

PORT ORCHARD, Wash. (KABC) -- Radio icon Casey Kasem's health is getting worse while the bitter family battle over his care continues.

The 82-year-old former host of "American Top 40" is receiving care for a serious pressure ulcer at St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor. A hospital spokesman says he was admitted Sunday, but declined further comment.

Meantime, Kasem's daughter Kerri Kasem and his wife Jean Kasem attended a court hearing Friday afternoon. Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Jennifer Forbes ruled that Kerri, not her stepmother, is in charge of her father's medical care.

However, all members of Kasem's family can visit him at the hospital, just not at the same time, Forbes said.

Kerri Kasem said in a court filing that her father suffers from a debilitating form of dementia. In court, she said he was suffering from bedsores and lung and bladder infections.

Jean Kasem, who had been in control of her husband's medical care, denied those allegations. She had blocked three of his children from seeing him, according to court filings.

On May 20, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Daniel S. Murphy ordered Jean Kasem to comply with court orders allowing doctors to evaluate her husband, and also permit Kerri Kasem to see him. Kerri Kasem had initially been barred from sharing pictures of her visits, after Jean Kasem's lawyers raised concerns about pictures given to the media.

The judge also ordered Jean Kasem to surrender her husband's passport and temporarily suspended her powers to determine her husband's medical care.

Forbes held Friday that the California court order prevails.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.