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'Paul's ' story

Deleted User

Would a non disabled person be treated this way? A late middle aged autistic and schizophrenic man, we'll call him 'Paul', has 2 falls. Paul's pain dismissed as 'psychological'. 7 weeks later x ray reveals a broken femur. Paul's daughter starts a negligence claim on his behalf.Much is made of Paul's autism and SMI. Described as having 'impaired cognition'( tests created and normed by psychometricians put IQ between 142-152). Much made of psychiatric/psychological issues. Intent devaluing and dismissing his experience as the person who had the falls.

Totally irrelevant past history of self harm mentioned. Paul's last self harm- over 15 years ago.Much is made with good reason as to lifestyles of those with ASD and/or SMI and premature mortality. But situations like Paul's show that stigmatising attitudes by health pros can also be a means by which life expectancy is reduced.

Paul is not the only autistic and/or schizophrenic person to have been subjected to such ignorant and stigmatising behaviour. Attitudes need to change. Treating people like Paul this way is both counterproductive, and to put it bluntly, utterly stupid.

How many autistic and/or schizophrenic persons subjected to such an attitude decide to keep future health issues to themselves, with sometimes fatal consequences?

Parents
  • Unknown said:
    'Paul', has 2 falls. Paul's pain dismissed as 'psychological'. 7 weeks later x ray reveals a broken femur.

    There must be a bunch of stuff in the timeline here that led to the X-Ray.

    How long until he went to a doctor?

    Was it the same doctor that saw him on subsequent visits and who then arranged the X-Ray?

    Who described him as psychological and who brought up his self harm history?

    It isn't just autistic / disabled people who are treated this way though, the elderly and many other groups who are seen as "troublesome" or a burdon on the GPs do often receive the same level of disregard and sometimes abuse.

    Changing attitudes will not come anytime soon as this seems very much a facet of human nature I fear - we are seen as complicated and troublesome to deal with so are often given treatment like this.

    I agree it is not acceptable, but a societal level change need to happen for things to change.

Reply
  • Unknown said:
    'Paul', has 2 falls. Paul's pain dismissed as 'psychological'. 7 weeks later x ray reveals a broken femur.

    There must be a bunch of stuff in the timeline here that led to the X-Ray.

    How long until he went to a doctor?

    Was it the same doctor that saw him on subsequent visits and who then arranged the X-Ray?

    Who described him as psychological and who brought up his self harm history?

    It isn't just autistic / disabled people who are treated this way though, the elderly and many other groups who are seen as "troublesome" or a burdon on the GPs do often receive the same level of disregard and sometimes abuse.

    Changing attitudes will not come anytime soon as this seems very much a facet of human nature I fear - we are seen as complicated and troublesome to deal with so are often given treatment like this.

    I agree it is not acceptable, but a societal level change need to happen for things to change.

Children
  • in reply to Iain

    'Paul' couldn't get to a doctor. Doctor came to see him. After paramedics had dismissed his pain as 'psychological'. OTs came in, despite being in intense pain 'Paul' did all he could to comply with the exercises etc. After a while it dawned on them that perhaps there was at least a slight problem. There then followed a catalogue of errors in arranging suitable transport for 'Paul' to be x rayed. 'Paul' had to be slid down the stairs on a special sheet in order to get out and get into the ambulance.