Deaf patient left unable to communicate with hospital staff for 12 DAYS after staff

Smithtr

Smithtr

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A DEAF patient spent 12 days in hospital unable to communicate with medics because staff failed to get
her a sign language interpreter.

The woman repeatedly pointed to a sign on the wall for interpreter services and twice handed staff an interpreter’s card.

But she was given no help. And as a result, according to a report from Scotland’s public services watchdog, she may not have been able to give proper consent for surgery to remove her appendix.

The public services ombudsman, Jim Martin, said in his report that staff at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee had breached their own policy on informed consent in the case.

He accepted there was a local and national shortage of sign language interpreters but said Ninewells had not tried hard enough to find one.

Martin said it was clear that the patient, named only as Ms A, had felt isolated in the hospital. He upheld a complaint made on her behalf.

NHS Tayside said they had responded to Martin’s report by making several improvements to their procedures.

Patients could now book an interpreter direct. An online interpretation service had been trialled in GP surgeries and staff were learning sign language.
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Deaf patient was left unable to communicate with hospital staff for 12 days after staff failed to provide sign language interpreter - Daily Record
 
If the above is "true" amazing one can be in a hospital for 12 days and no one wonders why?
Also, strange. she- couldn't write-either.
Hope her appendix didn't "burst" while in the "wait".
 
drphil said:
If the above is "true" amazing one can be in a hospital for 12 days and no one wonders why?
Also, strange. she- couldn't write-either.
Hope her appendix didn't "burst" while in the "wait".
Click to expand...

Did you read the part that stated they did the surgery without informed consent ? Luckily the hospital is taking steps to make it easier to book an interpreter.

You might be a bit dismayed yourself even though getting life saving surgery, if you were not clear non what was happening.

Imagine the staff who would only communicate with you in sign, even though you are not fluent.

Any empathy there ?

Probably not in you little ethnocentric world. :(
 
drphil said:
If the above is "true" amazing one can be in a hospital for 12 days and no one wonders why?
Also, strange. she- couldn't write-either.
Hope her appendix didn't "burst" while in the "wait".
Click to expand...

I hope be you, I reading on comments, it is sadly. Really it is pretty doesn't work , deaf cultures perceptive on people vs hearing...

Bottesini said:
Did you read the part that stated they did the surgery without informed consent ? Luckily the hospital is taking steps to make it easier to book an interpreter.

You might be a bit dismayed yourself even though getting life saving surgery, if you were not clear non what was happening.

Imagine the staff who would only communicate with you in sign, even though you are not fluent.

Any empathy there ?

Probably not in you little ethnocentric world. :(
Click to expand...



I think so better communication deaf mentor clear to dr.Phil, do't want to confusing, interpreter easy to communication to Dr.Phil easy to understand 100%

deaf cultures it is sound look likes pretty difficult

struggle, many misunderstand hearing people. it is not easy we know, we encourage to Deaf interpreter communication to deaf people, it is very better improve communciation not easy! it is not easy.
 
I reread the article-still amazing. Item if unable to "write/speak" how did the lady communicate she had appendix trouble? Can one assume the lady knows how to write? Not sure her age/education etc.

I acknowledge I have never been in a hospital in Scotland.

I have been in hospitals here in Toronto. When I was- duly informed "triage" of bilateral "profound Hearing loss". They wrote the questions. I haven't been a patient in a hospital since my Cochlear Implant operation July 12, 2007.

Aside: If I went to the hospital -today-and something was "wrong with Cochlear Implant" would request everything be written as I am bilateral DEAF. I would inform "whoever" of that fact.

The Sociological concept of "ethnocentrism" would not appear to be relevant-in this circumstance.
 
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1. It could be her lack skill in English.
2. I see the comments from the website said that family or friend should interpreter for her. WTF.
 
Wondering where her family or friends were at this time (12 days)....It's true that we have a lack of intrepretors (even here in the USA).....

Then again, she might have died if they didn't operate...And I'm thinking also...if someone was in a car accident and was unresponsive...(deaf or hearing)...and the hospital had to do an emergency operation to save their life immediately....without consent....and no time to wait for their family or an intrepretor.....
 
been posted before...same answere we got wonderful nhs but it only as good as the staff that working that day or his case two weeks....these stories read about to often
 
drphil said:
I reread the article-still amazing. Item if unable to "write/speak" how did the lady communicate she had appendix trouble? Can one assume the lady knows how to write? Not sure her age/education etc.

I acknowledge I have never been in a hospital in Scotland.

I have been in hospitals here in Toronto. When I was- duly informed "triage" of bilateral "profound Hearing loss". They wrote the questions. I haven't been a patient in a hospital since my Cochlear Implant operation July 12, 2007.

Aside: If I went to the hospital -today-and something was "wrong with Cochlear Implant" would request everything be written as I am bilateral DEAF. I would inform "whoever" of that fact.

The Sociological concept of "ethnocentrism" would not appear to be relevant-in this circumstance.
Click to expand...

That was my point. You read and write English well and with full comprehension.

This patient did not but was a fluent signer.

If staff refused to write to you,, but insisted on only sign, you would be in the same position as the referenced patient.
 
It depends on what circumstances she lives in-outside the hospital, eg what does she do when persons around her communicate in written form? Presumably she was "born deaf" and unable to speechread. All this is just conjecture of her life to the point of going to the hospital. Further aside: possible not to have hands thus can't write, Who knows?

In the hypothetical world-a hospital where only ASL/BSL et al were used writing in "english" et al might cause some "difficulty". To the best of my knowledge this is not reality.
Dream(nightmare?) world of Militant deaf actualized?

Enough for the moment. Cheers!
.
 
drphil said:
how did the lady communicate she had appendix trouble?
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How about hand(s) on lower abdomen with pained expression on face. Would you understand that? Probably not since it's not written or spoken. :roll:
 
@Dr.Phil
1) Communication ASL skill
2)write communication to on paper to the staff.
3) ask to tell contact to appointment to prepare to interpreter ASL professional.

if suppose staff nurse won't refusing. I clear to you. you ASL learn it!

It is very pretty new ASL important... ASL is very important to communication to mention to reason emengery to serious, future to happened reason alots of cocern serious

staff expect to communication to you!
 
Possible to indicate some "trouble" in own's lower region- however how could she "indicate the severity and length of time she so experienced? To then communicate "that" to the "examining doctors".

aside I had my gallbladder taken out-due to the large "stone"-many years ago. Reflecting back- it would have been very difficult to explain to the surgeon-without speaking OR writing what I felt. It was "picked up by X ray" Not sure if appendix can be X rayed?

further aside I wasn't DEAF back then-the mid eighties.

Still seem to be a "strange interlude" in a hospital for 12 days.
 
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