Vile and beyond any justification

[kitanzi]

http://blog.mattalgren.com/2009/09/hospital-forces-lesbian-to-die-alone/

I am too damn tired to have any words, I can only hope the people responsible for this also die alone, kept from their families and reviled by the people responsible for their care.

Comments

[annonynous.livejournal.com]

My browser couldn't handle kitanzi's blog.mattalgren link; it crashed. So I'm a bit short on background. I don't know any details about alleged bias in the hospital's treatment of the patient. But be it noted that official spokespersons are really good at saying things without choking on their words. It's part of the job description.

I agree with almost everything expanding-x-man said in the analysis linked to above by epi_lj. One minor quibble is that being in an ICU does not necessarily mean no visitors for the patient unless the patient is in quarantine and the highest level of precaution is required for anyone entering that room. And even then I've seen a visitor suit / glove / mask up and be allowed a short visit.

One major problem for the plaintifs was that they may have had a Power of Attorney and a Living Will, but they apparently did not hold the patient's Health Care Proxy, a far more relevant and powerful document. The agent(s) named in a Health Care Proxy would have the legal right to intervene on the patient's behalf in regards to treatment (or refusal thereof) and probably also would have had visitation rights. Sadly, such does not seem to have been the case.

Did I mention that I'm neither a lawyer nor a health care professional?

All this being said, it doesn't seem that the plaintifs had a legal case, despite the BS from the hospital about ICU visit limitations. But what should be obvious to anyone with even a bit of humanity is that the hospital acted abominably and uncaringly. Death is forever, and dying alone can be a needlessly fearful ending.

My condolences go out to the bereaved. And my wishes for strength and perseverance go out to anyone who is now fearful of what the future may hold for them or their loved ones if a similar fate becomes theirs.

Ann O.