Editor, Times-Union: Be careful about entrusting your senior-citizen family members to the local hospital. “The system” might just run away with them.
March 11, the local hospital ER injected my mother with morphine and without her signed consent or my knowledge sent her to Ft.Wayne – and she was only at the ER to rule out a possible fracture of the upper leg.
The story goes like this. After she had been out for an evening stroll, I found my mother, Joy Fair, sitting on our garden wall saying her leg hurt and she could not put weight on it. (You might remember Joy Fair as a teacher who gave of herself for children in special circumstances or as the lady who led the petition drive to save our Carnegie libarary.) She has developed dementia and has fallen several times without any serious injury. Friends helped her get into the house and into bed. Late (for us) that night, her leg continued to hurt and she became unable to get up. At age 90, she knew she could have possibly developed a fracture spontaneously and wanted to go to the hospital. I called the EMS. After a brief discussion, they transported her. I have my own health problems and knew I could not drive safely, so I said I would be at the hospital as soon as it was light. I sent a note with my name as POA, a request to be called, and our home phone number and my office number. After midnight, I called and was told no information was available. The written emergency room records obtained later indicate that they had already given her morphine and were in the process of deciding to send her away without consent.
Imagine my shock when I thought she was safe at the local hospital and found that she was not there. Joy Fair had been virtually kidnapped and sent to Ft. Wayne, where neither of us knew any medical professionals.
Of course there is more to the story and none of it helpful to my mother, who turned out to have simple bursitis.
What should be done to ensure that this never happens to any senior citizen and their family again? There are two courts--the court of law and the court of public opinion. I am starting with the court of public opinion. But is that enough?
