This comment made on
Facebook (regarding a post on the pro-LCP page): -
We would all wish for 10 minutes, 5 minutes, hell, even 1 minute more with our lost loved ones! We do all finally reach an age where losing loved ones becomes inevitable and we all know how precious life is! We know we all die, and with death and through grief, comes adjustment to a new reality.The tactical use of words below is nothing short of coercion and a seemingly passive but compelling use of language, it's sick.
I have to post this, word for word, as written on the "I Support the LCP" group -
"Esther Rantzen on Piers Morgan's Life Stories:
"If I had the choice between 10 more years of life or 10 minutes more with Desmond [her husband who died in 2000] ... I would choose 10 more minutes with Desmond."
This is why every day, hour and minute of life is precious. It is why talking openly when someone is in the last days and hours of life is so very important. Identifying someone who is dying allows them and their loved ones to have that chance to say all those things that will remain in the memories of those who live on.
That is why I support the Liverpool Care Pathway - promoting care, communication and comfort. Everyone dies and when they do they should receive exceptional care whether they are in hospital, in a hospice, at home or in care home."
This is NNUH -
05 June 2007
terminally ill
A new initiative designed to give terminally ill patients at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital the "good death" that they want has been welcomed by TV presenter Esther Rantzen.
Bonus payments
About 55,000 people die in the East each year. Half die in hospital, usually with a chronic illness such as heart disease, cancer or stroke.
The BBC sent Freedom of Information requests to 20 NHS trusts requesting details about their use of LCP.
Only half provided the information, with some saying that they did not collate figures.
The investigation revealed figures for the number of patients at other hospitals placed on the LCP, and government incentives relating to the plan:- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Trust: more than 1,100 patients in the last three years. The trust was also paid £192,000 as a bonus for meeting targets to promote palliative care
It is a most dangerous state of affairs when an individual or institution stands sacrosanct, beyond criticism, solely because of who or what they are. That is precisely the situation we are in. Esther has had personal experience of both
Some have been deeply critical of that personal experience in regard to the former - the individual:
Shameful Esther Rantzen
Esther was well aware of the “green room gossip”.
I have been deeply troubled this week by the sickening revelations of Jimmy Saville’s reign as a paedophile king and his abuse of vulnerable children that went unpunished during his lifetime. I only hope those affected can now find some solace now he has been outed.
As a passionate campaigner for the rights of those hurt by others in all walks of life I sincerely hope that all those affected get good representation in the fight for justice they now face. I am further sickened to the core by the fact that so many knew and did nothing, chief amongst them Esther Rantzen who has been all over the place in a sychophantic hand wringing stomach turning exhibition of her vile character.
She has now revealed that she was well aware of the “green room gossip” but chose to do nothing as she was a mere “minion” and would not be believed.
In regard to the latter - the institution - Esther may be forgiven. We did not know then what we know now. This was still early days. The LCP was recommended in the Our Health, Our Care, Our Say white paper 2006 to be rolled out across the
Death is not at all something that people in our culture are afraid to talk about. It is those who want to clinicalise death and dying and anaesthetise grief and mourning who are afraid of death. There is no such thing as a good death.
Historically, different cultures have adopted all manner of grieving rituals to mourn the passing of a loved one. The Biblical act of renting one's clothes and covering with ashes is one that springs immediately to mind. It is important to experience grief. It is natural. It is part of the human condition.
Those who wish to speak for themselves may do so. They have no right to speak for others. Those who wish to support the Pathway may do so and those who do not have that right, likewise.
Those who wish to place themselves or their loved ones in the terminal predicament that this hellish Pathway offers, in the hands of the careless and uncaring who appear to predominate in this National-socialist Health Service, may do so. I do not deny them that right and choice, nor would I think of so doing.
It is not their right to impose that choice on others, however. Do not impose that choice on me or mine!
The LCP precludes 'unnecessarily burdensome tests'. The LCP, apparently, provides for review, but -
The Big Question -
The Big Question -
Baroness Finlay -
When somebody looks as if they’re dying and you have done all you can to exclude all reversible causes, then, whatever you do, you must go back and review and review and review.
Dr. Philip Howard –
"One of the problems about the Liverpool Care Pathway is that a decision is made and then, very often, observations are stopped, nursing observations are stopped, simple blood tests are stopped and further interventions are usually stopped – with the exception of oxygen, interestingly enough; that’s continued in 45% of cases. But most other interventions are stopped and very rarely started. When… How can the patient be properly reviewed if you don’t have basic nurse observations, basic blood tests and so on? After three days, em… three quarters of the patients have died, but of those that are still alive, according to the audit that was done of 7,000 patients two years ago, only 20% were reassessed."
Pause....
Without proper medical monitoring (which is precluded) may the LCP, contrary to what is claimed, actually hasten death?
I am not persuaded that Child Line has worked for children. Social Services inevitably become involved and remove children into a care system that is not fit for purpose and this is happening more often. The Silverline that Esther is now involved in, on the Isle of White, as a trial I believe, looks like another phone-in trap for the unwary. Lonely old people who just want a chat are going to draw themselves to the attention of Social Services. That way lies claims of incapacity and the care home followed by the Liverpool care pathway.
ReplyDeleteEsther Rantzen is not innocent. Thousands write to her about children`s services and their many failings and she does nothing. She acts like a propaganda machine for government authorities and their policies.