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A
true-life case report which speaks for itself... And there are many more pitiful
cases that do not make headlines!
Local News
Web posted on May 30, 2002 at 9:00:00 AM CET
http://www.independent.com.mt/daily/newsview.asp?id=9909
Elderly man ‘dumped’
Daniela Xuereb
An 88-year-old man was
yesterday “dumped” at St Luke’s Hospital by relatives who refused to take
him home despite him suffering from a mild condition.
Sources at the hospital told The Malta Independent that the
elderly man’s condition could have been easily been treated at home.
The relatives of the man took him to the Accident and Emergency Department at
hospital late yesterday afternoon.
Sources close to The Malta Independent said the man was taken to hospital by
ambulance after his relatives insisted it was an urgent case, which tests proved
it was not.
After being treated by the doctors on call, the elderly man was left in the
waiting room of the AED while his relatives argued with the medical staff on
duty. They insisted the man should be given a bed in hospital and kept there.
The man was diagnosed as suffering from constipation and was assured a home
visit by a nurse who would give him the treatment he required. After being told
of the elderly man’s condition, his relatives became suddenly enraged and
refused to accept the doctor’s advice. Until late yesterday evening, the
relatives were still refusing to take him back home.
Sources said the man lived on his own, was very alert and had even refused to go
to Saint Vincent de Paul’s home for the elderly because he was still capable
of taking care of himself.
During the dispute between the man’s relatives and the medical staff at the
AED, the elderly man remained in the waiting area.
The police were informed about the case and, until going to print, the dispute
was still going. This is not the first time similar cases have been received at
the AED.
Sources said if the elderly man was kept at St Luke’s he would be considered
as a social case, a patient who does need hospitalisation but who could easily
be looked after at home.
(May,
2002)