BRITISH GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL DELIBERATELY STARVES AN AWARE ELDERLY PATIENT TO DEATH

They wouldn't even sit her up to give her a cup of tea. She died of thirst -- in a supposedly modern hospital, of all places!

A family who claimed their elderly mother endured a terrifying death after being deliberately starved by a hospital doctor put their case before a coroner yesterday. Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital allegedly decided that Olive Knockels, a former school matron who had suffered a stroke, would have no quality of life if she recovered. The case, in 2003, prompted renewed debate about guidelines giving doctors the power to let elderly patients starve. An inquest was told that Mrs Knockels, 91, died despite a court injunction forcing doctors to reinstate nutrition and hydration as well as antibiotics. They were also told to stop prescribing the powerful painkiller diamorphine without the written consent of the patient's daughter, Ivy West.

The order was made by Mr Justice Forbes in the High Court on October 6, 2003, after an application by Mrs Knockels' grandson, Christopher West. Four days earlier all food and fluid had been withdrawn. The next day, however, the order was varied by the judge when David Maisey, a consultant, telephoned him. In the amended order, of October 7, nutrition and hydration were to be reinstated only "so far as is medically possible". On October 8, Mrs Knockels, from Holt, Norfolk, died.

In a statement to William Armstrong, the coroner, Mrs West said her mother had begged her for something to eat and drink, or a cup of tea, but the request was refused by a nurse, on the doctor's orders. Her last days were spent with her false teeth and hearing aid removed from her bedside, in a cold hospital room. She was admitted on September 14, 2003, after a suspected stroke.After two weeks Dr Maisey allegedly told Mrs West that he was surprised her mother was still alive and said that if the family intervened, he would have them arrested. Mrs West said that on another visit her mother had looked terrified and had tried, unsuccessfully, to tell her something. Three days later she pleaded with her daughter: "Help. Help me please."

The family contacted SOS-NHS Patients in Danger, which has criticised deliberate dehydration and starvation and the inappropriate use of sedatives and diamorphine. Julia Quenzler, the founder of the organisation, advised the family of their legal rights and the High Court injunction followed. In a statement, Christopher West said: "I told Dr Maisey: `I wouldn't treat my dog like that', and he said it was easier for vets because they . . . can put animals to sleep."

When Mrs Knockels was admitted, she was given intravenous fluids but, ten days later, nurses found they could not gain access to a vein so it was decided fluids would be given by subcutaneous infusion. But, the inquest was told, on October 2, medical staff found fluid leaking and the removal of the equipment was ordered. Two attempts were said to have been made to insert a naso-gastric tube, but without success.

Dr Maisey told the coroner: "The prognosis was very poor. Mrs Knockels was almost certain to die . . . within the next few weeks. She was lying flat. To have put any food or liquid in her mouth would have led possibly to asphyxiation." The cause of death had been recorded as cerebral infarction, but Michael Jarmulowicz, a consultant histopathologist, told the coroner that death was due to a lack of food and fluid and that the cerebral infarction was the secondary cause of death.

Source




Politicians forced to over-rule irresponsible medical regulators

Doctors love their own. This is an update of a report posted previously on July 7, 2006

Premier Peter Beattie will consider changing the law to stop some convicted criminals from practising medicine in Queensland after the Medical Board this week re-registered a convicted rapist and known drug addict. Despite pleading guilty in 2002 to rape, attempted rape, deprivation of liberty and assault, James Samuel Manwaring is considered fit to practise medicine in Queensland. Manwaring is now listed as a registered doctor on the Medical Board's public access website.

He had a history of drug addiction while practising in Australia, the US and UK. After pleading guilty in 2002 to a vicious attack against his then wife, he was told by District Court judge Brian Hoath that nothing could 'excuse your involvement in these offences'. However, the Health Practitioner's Tribunal last July allowed him to immediately apply for re-registration after he had met a stipulation to submit hair for drug testing. The tribunal further imposed 24 conditions on his registration which would be strictly monitored. The conditions are listed on the board's public access inter-net register.

The Premier called for a report into the board's decision after revelations earlier this month that Manwaring was eligible for re-registration. He demanded that the board explain its position saying he was 'buggered if he knew' how Manwaring could qualify to practise again. Mr Beattie last night said he had received advice that legislation could be passed to 'prevent candidates from being registered or re-registered if they have been in-volved in specific criminal or other activities which affect their fitness to practice'. "I will now seek advice from the Health Practitioners Registration Board on the possible effects of such legislation," he said.

Manwaring's registration was listed on the board's website at the weekend, to the horror of his victim, Pat Gillespie. Ms Gillespie, a former journalist and public servant, has voluntarily identified herself as his victim. She said she was stunned to hear of the board's decision to re-gister Manwaring, given his his-tory of drug abuse and violent criminal convictions. She called on Mr Beattie to ensure Manwaring would never practise in Queensland again. "Someone has to warn the public what Manwaring is like," she said. "The medical board will not tell the public that he is a convicted drug addict, rapist and wife-basher."

The Medical Board yesterday defended Dr Manwaring's registration, saying it was forced to implement the tribunal's decision if he met eligibility criteria. [A lie. They have a power of discretion]

The above article appeared in the Queensland "Gold Coast Bulletin" (p. 9) on 19 July, 2006

***************************

For greatest efficiency, lowest cost and maximum choice, ALL hospitals and health insurance schemes should be privately owned and run -- with government-paid vouchers for the very poor and minimal regulation. Both Australia and Sweden have large private sector health systems with government reimbursement for privately-provided services so can a purely private system with some level of government reimbursement or insurance for the poor be so hard to do?

Comments? Email me here. If there are no recent posts here, the mirror site may be more up to date. My Home Page is here or here.

***************************