[tri-med] Re: update on Annie

I hope that US doesn't go to a socialized health care system either.  Every 
chance I get, I inform my friends and acquaintances of the dangers of the 
disabled and elderly if we were to have such as system.  Where will they draw 
the lines?  Any one of us would be just one heartbeat, one breath from being 
denied care in a system that only looks at what the government mandates for 
standards of care.  Government buracracies are already hard to deal with, so 
making something that should be easily and readily available makes it all the 
more difficult to understand why any one would want that type of system.
 
Yes, I understand that the costs of healthcare in the US is extremely 
expensive, however there are things that can be done to control those costs.  
Starting with tort reform!  The amounts awarded to individuals in some 
malpractice cases are unbelievable!  Some of them may be worthy, but most are 
fivolous.  Start there!
 
 
Doretta 
> From: b_farlow@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: tri-med@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [tri-med] 
> update on Annie> Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2008 22:04:36 +0000> > > Hello> It has been 
> a while since I provided everyone with an update on my situation with Annie. 
> > > As a brief summary, Annie died in Aug 2005 at the age of 80 days within 
> 24 hours of arrival at one of the best hospitals in Canada. > > During that 
> time, a DNR was entered in the record without informed consent, two lethal 
> quantities were signed out of the narcotic cabinet (20mg Morphine and 100mcg 
> Fentanyl) without a physician's order and the final medication report is 
> inexplicably missing. A nurse gave a supplemental dose of cloral hydrate with 
> no doctor's order that was shown as administered just before the medication 
> report disappeared. Annie was perfusing well, with stable hemodynamics and a 
> SAT rate of 97% one hour before death at which time the records stopped. > > 
> The intensivist told us Annie needed a surgery that she would not survive. 
> However, this is doubtful as there was no diagnostic testing. When I asked 
> this physician what his diagnostic basis was, he smiled and said, 
> "experience."> > The Coroner and his Pediatric Committee determined that the 
> care was "inappropriate" but said the narcotics were accounted for. When we 
> asked where the narcotics went to the Deputy Chief Coroner responded, "I 
> don't need to tell you that". We appealed for an inquest with letters from 
> disabilty groups representing tens of thousands of people, but the answer was 
> "NO" with no justification. > > We do not know how/why Annie died or could 
> not be helped. She had tri 13 with no Holoprosencephaly. Her cardiac problem 
> was minor and not expected to require surgery. All other organs were fine. 
> Her carbon dioxide levels became critical on the 5th day but they were 
> repeated ignored as they grew worse and worse until Annie died. We have no 
> idea of the cause. There was no autopsy and the Coroner declared that the 
> cause of death was "complications of trisomy 13". > > Recently, the Privacy 
> Commission refused to make an order for the hospital to do a search for the 
> missing medication report (it is a direct-entry electronic record) The 
> adjudicator said that the hospital did a "reasonable" search because they 
> checked the system twice. The fact is that electronic records cannot be 
> erased. He did not say what they searched or where they searched.> > It would 
> seem that the whole system in Canada, when it comes to children with 
> disabilities, is a bit of a joke (and that is a nice word). Annie was not 
> brain dead and she was not on life support. The fact that these things 
> happened to her effectively put thousands of vulnerable lives at risk. > > 
> Next is Human Rights mediation in December. The UN's High Commissioner's 
> office is following the case since we met with a human rights officer in 
> Geneva in July 2007. > > I am continuing to do public speaking and this month 
> our National Association for people with developmental disabilities (CACL) is 
> having a panel at their conference called "genetic justice." I have been 
> invited to be on it. > > I have heard that a little one with trisomy 18 had 
> successful cardiac surgery in another part of Canada recently, but for the 
> most part, it would seem that our system covertly withholds appropriate 
> treatment. I wish I had known that. If we had known that our hospital has 
> internal policies regarding the withholding, withdrawal and terminal sedation 
> of certain children, we would have just taken Annie home from the hospital. 
> In Ontario. infants with apnea due to a pre-existing condition, are not evel 
> allowed to have an apnea/cardio respiratory monitor. > > This whole situation 
> has been devasting to us. If life-saving treatment was not in the best 
> interests for Annie, then the doctors should have said so. The lied, again 
> and again, telling us that they were doing everything as they would for 
> another child. It is rather bizarre because we thought we had a very good 
> relationship with them. > > In Canada, doctors can do these things because 
> there is no legal protection for children. Their lives are worth so little 
> compared to the cost of a lawyer that only a fool wouild litigate. 
> Nonetheless, we do have a lawsuit. > > I hope that the US does not go to a 
> public health care system.> > Barb (Annie's Mom)> www.anniefarlow.com> > > > 
> > _________________________________________________________________> > > 
> Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows> www.trisomyonline.org> Families Helping 
> Families On-line> 
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