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February 26, 2011

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A California judge has ordered an independent medical evaluation of ailing Etta James after her son's attorney contended that the blues singer could be in "very serious danger" under the care of a live-in doctor.

The 72-year-old James suffers from dementia, leukemia, kidney problems and other ailments. Her son's attorney, James E. Deering Jr., said at a Thursday court hearing that Dr. Elaine James, who is not related to the singer, put feeding tubes into James' stomach at home — a procedure that should have been performed in a hospital, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported.

Deering compared the singer's situation to that of Michael Jackson, who died while under the care of a live-in physician. Dr. Conrad Murray has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter.

A report by a confidential investigator that was released to attorneys Thursday raises "significant questions" about whether Etta James is receiving proper medical treatment at her home in the Woodcrest area of Riverside County. Superior Court Judge Thomas Cahraman ordered a court-appointed attorney representing the singer's interests to arrange for independent physicians to examine the singer and review her medical charts.

Elaine James told The Associated Press by phone Friday that she welcomed the independent examination and said the judge made a wise decision.

"He can have 10 examiners, he can have 20 physicians to come in that house to perform the duties I do," she said. "I have a list of 23 medical sub-specialties that I have had to treat her for. She is not an easy patient."

The 49-year-old surgeon said she was brought in by James's husband a year ago and that she also cooks, buys groceries and trains nurses who help care for the singer.

She declined to detail the care she has provided, but said it was crucial.