- LETTER TO PROFESSOR GIDEON CAPLAN 06/08/06
from a contributor -
6 Aug 06
Professor Gideon Caplan
Prince of Wales Hospital
Randwick, NSW. 2031
Dear Sir,
On hearing your talk on Life Matters last week I immediately tried to contact
the program, as there were no links on the Internet. I sent them an e-mail and
made 2 phone calls for information, as yet there has not been a response. (I
do not have a pod thing and only basic access) So I have to rely on my
scribbled notes taken while you were speaking.
I fall into the category of geriatric by age and risk after spending 22 days
in a public hospital last year, pending orthopedic surgery to remove my
replacement hip and insert a new one.
The decision made by the team at the last moment was not to proceed as the
risks outweighed the benefits.
After a visit to my own GP (armed with a list of symptoms of that were
worrying me) two weeks prior, I took a taxi to the hospital where they
admitted me for heart failure, most of the symptoms being ones I presented to
my GP. That is another story, but your mention of GP's drawing back from
nursing home residents being part of “Corporate” industry seems sometimes to
also refer to aged patients visiting their own GP.
Being placed under the health in the home program, I have been given the RPC*
forms by my case manager. I became aware of the pilot program from
correspondence with the hospital and State Health Minister when I discovered
my advance directives previously lodged within my hospital file since 2000
were not easily accessible, also from an article in the nursing newsletter.
She was not aware that these documents are not within statute law and until
the Victorian Govt do introduce legislation to that effect (copy enclosed ** &
***) they can be overlooked. I have downloaded your presentation "why transfer
to hospital", and have a note about the health funds apparently not supporting
the program.
You must be aware that many older people are becoming active in organisations
for Dying with Dignity and Exit. They are realistic about life end conditions;
some even have made the trip to Switzerland. Perhaps this could be the reason
for the remarks about euthanasia, a taboo subject about which much is written
by both sides of the debate. At least your work shows a move in the direction
of listening to patients, and hopefully medical economists will take note.
Yours Sincerely
(Contributor is a Victorian Resident)
· *RPC stands for “Respecting Patient Choices” a Palliative Care
initiative by the Victorian State Government.
· **Enclosed were copies of the Resolution presented to the Victorian ALP
State Conference in 2005 but which remain dormant. They are available for
reading on the Front Opening Page of this website as the very last items.
· ***And in addition, a copy of the article taken from the Diary Entry of this
website August 5th.
_________________________________
“Last week at the "wake" I met up with a young lady who works in an aged care
facility. I was asked if I had mentioned to her the work that I undertake with
this website etc etc. "No, I hadn't", I responded.....but the name of the
website was then given by the other party so I said "Yes, I am lobbying
politically to bring about legality to the Respecting Patient Choices - Living
Wills etc!" Barely were the words out when the girl said "Oh No! I don't worry
about things like that - I just do it!" I must have looked a little startled
because she went on with a lovely big smile saying, "Oh No, I don't know
anything about politics, if my ladies want another cup of tea, or extra
biscuits I just give it to them - you know we're told two is the limit, with
if they want more I just slip it to them. I want to keep them happy!"
It was only on the long drive home that I could begin to see the "funny" side
of what constitutes "Respecting Patient Choices", and have since shared the
story with the sense of levity that I should have felt immediately instead of
the despair I feel at the training of those who have care of people who may
wish to share their inner most fears and dreads "to the tea lady!" It is a
serious business, this growing older, weaker, frailer, sicker, dying
slowly.....but then I remember the Catholic ethicist, "give them tea and
sympathy but nothing else" he said.
And then there's "respect" meaning "to recognise and abide by".......
Talking about Respecting Patient Choices, the palliative care initiative
undertaken by the current Victorian State Government may I point out that
"respecting" as a word, has no value unless the respect is followed through
with legal status to ensure that genuine respect in law, has been given to the
patient choices.
Currently "Respecting Patient Choices" means only that, "I may "respect" your
choice in the same way, religious beliefs of others are respected, but not
participated in.
Until Patient Choices are given statutory recognition they are just words of
intentions, not actions.”
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