Help !!!! Please !!!!

Kay2

Registered User
Mar 16, 2007
12
0
Lancashire
Hi all :)

Just an update. Today we had a meeting with the team concerned with my Mil's case. They want to move her to a secure residential care/nursing home. We are happy about this, as she will not need to be moved if/when her condition deteriorates. So we will be spending this weekend looking for somewhere. They will pay what ever it is they pay as she is sectioned.

On a down note we are really struggling to find legal advice :( It is a very specialised field and the one group we did fine works for the hospital:rolleyes: They have given us the details of another firm, miles away :rolleyes: but we have to give them a try. Will let you know how it goes, it may be of help to others who find themselves in this situation.

Thank you everyone again for your support :)

K xx
 

Kay2

Registered User
Mar 16, 2007
12
0
Lancashire
Hi again :)

Useful day :) Law firm has pointed us in the right direction, at no cost to us:D (private mail and I will give name)

By all accounts the hospital could not have gone ahead with treatment, legally, even with our permission :eek: They would have always needed to go to family court, as they have her on a section :eek: Also they have to appoint council for Mil, official solicitor ( London based, but, have number to get local contact), who can also work with/ for us as next of kin :)

Also advised to contact PALS (thanks to everyone here, who offered same advice :) )

Hope at least some of this will be of help to others. ;) Not sure if there is a better place to post this? Perhaps worth having a legal help forum?

Thanks yet again everyone

Kay xxx
 

Grannie G

Volunteer Moderator
Apr 3, 2006
81,443
0
Kent
Hi Kay.

Thanks for the update. I`m glad you were pointed in the right direction, but horrified you had to endure such `bully boy tactics` from the hospital, re the chemo.

A Legal Section might be a good idea.

I hope you find a suitable home for your MIL.

Take care
 

Skye

Registered User
Aug 29, 2006
17,000
0
SW Scotland
Hi Kay

So glad you were able to find a legal firm who were able to help you. I would have thought the hospital would have known the position, after all sections are not that rare. Although I suppose sections combined with cancer probably are!:(

Anyway, well done for getting this far, you must be so relieved.

I hope all goes well from now on.

Love,
 

Kay2

Registered User
Mar 16, 2007
12
0
Lancashire
Skye said:
I would have thought the hospital would have known the position, after all sections are not that rare. Although I suppose sections combined with cancer probably are!:(

Hiya

Apparently it is not that unusual for this type of cancer as it does tend to affect older people, 65 +, and the older the person the more likely it becomes :(

What really bothers me is , would they have gone ahead with treatment if we had agreed? :mad: and worse still, what about people who don't have next of kin? Are these people treated ad hock ( we've got them here we can do what we like )
:confused: There certainly seems to be that ethos within the unit:mad: Both the phsyciatrist and social worker are very high handed and arrogant;) ( didn't work with us though)

I know that both my husband and myself will be making living wills, to try and ensure nothing like this can happen to either of us, as we don't have children who would be able to fight for us in this situation.

Thanks again for all your support

Kay xxx
 

Canadian Joanne

Registered User
Apr 8, 2005
17,710
0
70
Toronto, Canada
Good for you

Glad to hear things are turning for the better for you re: all the legal hassles. It does sound like the typical "right hand doesn't know what the left is doing" regarding giving her both life-shortening and lengthening drugs.

At this point in your MIL's life, she does not need anything like the chemo, pill or not. Does your husband have the EPA? I'm not sure how it works in the UK (it's enough keeping up with my idiots here) but we have 2 POAs (POA here is the equivalent of EPA) for my mother, one for finances and the other for medical. It means that whatever my sister & I decide, goes. If we don't want a certain treatment or drug, we can make that decision.

Having said that, when a person is sectioned, it's a lot more difficult. My mother was sectioned (from her nursing home, no less) last fall & they did do whatever treatments they felt necessary. Fortunately, we were in agreement because I'm not certain what the outcome of a head-on battle would have been. I suspect we would have won because there's a whole thing about Patient rights here, especially in the psychiatric ward.

Keep us posted. We are your cheering section.:)

Joanne
 

allylee

Registered User
Feb 28, 2005
180
0
60
west mids
Dear Kay , thats scandalous.
Chemotherapy is tough enough for many young myeloid sufferers , let alone your poor mum in law!
I had a same but different battle when my nan had AD ,at 90 and with very advanced disease the GP referred her for an endoscopy to check out her reduced swallowing reflex!
I spoke directly with the consultant who fortunately was sensible and compassionate and the procedure never happened.
Im so glad you were vociferous and got it sorted!
Well done, huge pat on the back
Love Ally xx
 

Kay2

Registered User
Mar 16, 2007
12
0
Lancashire
Hi everyone :)

Well, may be, another good day ;) We have found a home, with a vacancy, which is geared up to cope with Mil's problems, AND, best of all, it is litterely within walking distance :D It is about 200 yrds (don't know how many mtr :confused: ) up the main road.

We are going to visit tomorrow, ( busy tonight, dogs/ Vets)although we have been told that they have an open door policy for any visitors. ( I know this to be true as one of My collegue's at work, has parents in the same home and rates it very highly :) Plus the last report, June last year is also good, better than the home in Mil's area, given to us by the team looking after her at the mo!

So fingers crossed, will let you all know how it goes, and if we can get her in.

Thanks for everyone's support

Kay xxx
 

Grannie G

Volunteer Moderator
Apr 3, 2006
81,443
0
Kent
Hi Kay,

It`s brilliant to be able to get a reccommendation for a home, it`s what we would all hope for.

I hope the visit goes well and there is a vacancy for your MIL.
 

Nell

Registered User
Aug 9, 2005
1,170
0
72
Australia
Fantastic news Kay2!! Sounds like a fantastic solution all round! I'll be sending you the very best wishes for success in all that goes ahead. Nell
 

Kay2

Registered User
Mar 16, 2007
12
0
Lancashire
Hiya again :)

Update

MIL has now had a proper diagnosis!!! (more tests were done) and there is a targeted treatment!!! (wonder if this would have been the case had we not put up a fight?)

The new treatment has far fewer & less traumatic side effects, which can be easily treated !!!!

We are now waiting to hear from the home we chose, as they have been to visit her today, to access her needs & make sure they can provide them. ( fingers crossed)

Don't know how we would have coped without you all

Thank you :)

Kay xx
 

jenniferpa

Registered User
Jun 27, 2006
39,442
0
Great news Kay. We'll all be keeping our fingers crossed that the evaluation turns out OK.

Jennifer
 

Grannie G

Volunteer Moderator
Apr 3, 2006
81,443
0
Kent
Good news Kay.
Such a pity you had to fight so hard to be listened to, but it`s all turned out well, so was worth it.