Written off for having learning difficulties

In the news today. Pretty shocking really.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19570364

A 'Do Not Resuscitate' instruction was left on the notes of a hospital patient without the consent of his relatives. On what grounds, well, 'Learning difficulties' among other things apparently.

I find this pretty scary. If doctors can decide they will let you die just because you have learning difficulties, then what next? Over 50 and therefore already more than half way there anyway? Long term unemployed?

 

Who is he being treated by Dr Hitler! worse than the judge that thinks its courageous to burgle somebodies home

 

This attitude is sadly not uncommon although things have improved in that people no longer think that's an acceptable note!

There's been studies done that show people with learning disabilities experience discrimination in accessing healthcare. They are often not listened to or their concerns are dismissed. There has been a lot of reports about this and better practice is being introduced but clearly there's still a way to go.

The life expectancy of a person with a learning disability is lower than average, and it's because they don't have access to the same care.

 

It is standard practise nationwide in our NHS as far as I know not to resisitate dementia patients...!!![/quote]

It's pretty awful, and I saw some people have been calling for a review of dnr. However, on his notes the reasons for dnr were: 'downs syndrome, feeding tube, dementia'.

Putting down's syndrome as a reason to not resuscitate is wrong. Clearly he has health issues, people who have down's syndrome and dementia present a real challenge to provide adequate care. The trouble is that there is documented discrimination against people with learning disabilities in health care provision, so when they have another problem like dementia they are more likely to receive inadequate care.

The fact that the guy is around a year later, with what his family consider to be a good standard of life, shows this was a bad call.

Do not resuscitate orders without the consent of the family are against the law. In this case the reason for dnr was clearly linked to his learning disability, which not only makes it illegal but pretty obvious discrimination.

Re the dnr, I have been told some stories by people who worked in healthcare where people managed to resuscitate but it left the patient 'locked in' paralysed and needing 24 hr care, suffering nearly constant seizures. You do question whether resuscitate was the right thing but at the time they had to proceed, in case the brain damage wasn't that severe.