Deathmaking by medical neglect

When my nine-year-old daughter, Daisy, died, a doctor at the hospital said to me: “It’s almost like losing a child.” What did he think my beautiful daughter was?

Amanda Healy’s wrenching commentary in the Independent, July 30, 2008, presents the horror of a mother whose child is admitted to hospital with an infected tooth and who fully expects her daughter to receive the medical care she needs. Eventually she must not only face the tragic death of her daughter but also to accept that the health care system was…

fully aware that Daisy’s life was in danger. [Yet] They did not try to save her, they just documented her decline.

Amanda Healy’s powerful commentary was published along with results of an independent inquiry into the quality of care in the National Health Service. The report found systematic medical discrimination against children and adults with intellectual disabilities, sometimes resulting in death. For more on the report, see Death in Care of the National Health Service. Amanda Healey’s commentary is very reminiscent of Barabra Farlow’s description of how her baby was allowed to die by doctors in a Canadian hospital previously discussed on the What Sorts blog.