This is Care Opinion [siteRegion]. Did you want Care Opinion [usersRegionBasedOnIP]?
Care Opinion

Tests and treatment

Posted By blueex36

"Tests and treatment"

About: University Hospital Monklands

(as a relative),

I want to give some feedback about Monklands in Glasgow. My mother has been recently diagnosed with blood cancer and has been informed she needs to be admitted into hospital for further tests and treatment.

We feel that my mother has a right to accept or reject any treatments or test to her own body and she is exercising that human right not to accept or take a Covid test. The hospital will not admit her and give any test or treatment because of this. She insists the she is exercising her right not to have the covid test.

Is this not discrimination? Does it not put the Hippocratic Oath in question?    

More about:
Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from Lynn Mack, Cancer & Haematology Service Manager, NHS Lanarkshire 2 years ago
Lynn Mack
Cancer & Haematology Service Manager,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 18/05/2021 at 18:25
Published on Care Opinion at 18:25

picture of Lynn Mack

Dear bluee36

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and mum's concerns in relation to care and next steps with your mum's treatment, especially those around having the Covid test in advance. I appreciate your mum's feelings towards having the Covid test undertaken in advance of coming into the ward to commence treatment especially on top of her recent diagnosis.

The reason the covid test is required prior to admission, is due to the nature of the ward that your mum would be admitted to. Having the test in advance gives the reassurance that all patients with a blood cancer are Covid negative before commencing any treatment or having further tests along with keeping them safe within a covid free environment during their Inpatient Stay.

To help explain in more detail around your mum's care, I would welcome the opportunity to speak to you in person to discuss further and explain why this is required around patient safety whilst we continue to keep the ward covid free.

If you can give me a call on my mobile: 07919308692 at your earliest convenience, I will be able to explain further on the reasoning behind this and give reassurance to both you and your mum on why it has been asked for.

Thank you once again for sharing your concerns and look forward to speaking in person.

Warmest Regards

Lynn

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by blueex36 (a relative)

Hello Lynn,

Thank you, we are very grateful understanding and very response, and also for your direct contact number. However we do not wish to have this conversion again over the phone. Now seeing that the process of public discourse is the best way to highlight challenges. We also see that this is why platforms such as this one exist, and are so incredibly important and effective.

To bring increased clarity to the original post please see the points below in an order which highlights the key issues effecting my mothers health care and treatment.

1. She was advised after diagnosis that THE BEST AND MOST BENEFICIAL course of treatment for her blood cancer is to be admitted to hospital.

2. She was then told that she would have to have to take two tests.

3. It's a basic human right to decide what is done with your body. Using this right she has decided not to have such tests. (For many reasons, none of which she is obligated to discuss with anyone.) "Bodily integrity is the inviolability of the physical body and emphasizes the importance of personal autonomy, self-ownership, and self-determination of human beings over their own bodies. In the field of human rights, violation of the bodily integrity of another is regarded as an unethical infringement, intrusive, and possibly criminal"

4. As a result of this decision, the best and most beneficial course of action to fully understand, diagnose and treat her condition by admitting her to hospital is being wrongfully withheld.

5. Her treatment should not be altered away from the most beneficial treatment, as a result of using any of her human rights. As this can be deemed discrimination. This is a direct violation of a human right protected by Article 14 of the Human Rights Act. "A right not to be discriminated against when you are relying on your other rights in the Human Rights Act." This means that when one of your other rights is engaged, you can also raise your right to non-discrimination. In this instance the right which engages this is "Bodily integrity"

6. Not only can this be deemed as discrimination based on the use of one of her human rights, but is also cause to highlight the Hippocratic Oath and ethics in connection to a physicians choice not to take the most effective course of action towards the health and well being of the patient.

7. The closest modern version to the Hippocratic Oath in the UK is the core values and principles set by the General Medical Council (GMC). This states "Not to harm, especially not to seduce patients" This is not being upheld as she is being given an ultimatum before receiving the best course of treatment to which she is entitled, surmounting to seduction. Another area under question would specifically be pertaining to (Domain 4) "Treat patients and colleagues fairly and without discrimination." There are others within these principles which relate to the situation but these two are currently the most relevant.

While we may have different views on the validity of certain aspects of what is referred to as Covid-19, including infection rates, statistics and accuracy of testing. We can all observe that the greatest detrimental impact to way of life, well being and health has in fact been created by the reaction, actions, or non action in some instances to the perceived threat. Not by the symptoms or impact of Covid-19 itself.

On the whole we have been careful to maintain focus on the key areas relating to the core issues which impact my mothers health and treatment in this response. That said we would kindly request to have a reply which directly references each of the points highlighted in the order listed, just to ensure alignment and understanding as we move forward.

All taken into consideration I hope the capability for autonomous reasoning has not been completely replaced by corporate and government policies. In the hope that this will lead to the decision to do what is right and fair in the interest of health and of human rights. As a result, giving my mother the full and best course of treatment she deserves.

Respectfully

blueex36

Response from Lesley Mallon, Risk Management Facilitator, University Hospital Hairmyres, NHS Lanarkshire 2 years ago
Lesley Mallon
Risk Management Facilitator, University Hospital Hairmyres,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 24/05/2021 at 10:59
Published on Care Opinion at 10:59

picture of Lesley Mallon

Dear blueex36

Firstly, many thanks for sharing both your and your mother's experience on Care Opinion. I was very sorry to learn of your mother's recent diagnosis.

I note that Lynn Mack kindly offered you the opportunity to discuss the comments you documented on your post, with her via telephone, but you have declined her offer.

We, at NHS Lanarkshire, would welcome the opportunity to try to resolve the issues you have listed, in order to give your mother the best possible care and treatment throughout her patient journey. In order to do this, can I please ask that you contact the Patient Affairs Team at University Hospital Monklands, by either emailing them on PatientAffairs.Monklands@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk or by telephoning 01236 713065 quoting Care Opinion reference 845930.

Kind regards.

Lesley

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k