Violence in Hospital
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The Government has made frequent statements about action against patients or others acting violently in hospital. At first sight they are stating the obvious, but there is a more sinister side to what the Government says. The NHS seems to have brought itself to look for violence whenever patients or their friends and relatives query arbitrary decisions. It is commonplace to see notices in reception areas saying that people using violent language or behaviour will be prosecuted. We would not expect to see such notices in other places, such as supermarkets. The effect on people visiting hospitals is to promote fear. The hospital is in a controlling relationship with patients. Any resistance to control, even a mild query, will be treated as an aggressive response. I have been in that position (see Experience) when challenging a Coventry consultant's decision to refuse my mother's hip replacement. On this occasion other people were more reasonable, and eventually a Birmingham consultant gave a second opinion and performed the operation. In other circumstances I might have been thrown out of the hospital. Most published instances of violence in hospital have been committed by the NHS. See Harassment of patients and Compulsory Euthanasia. The case of David Glass is particularly illuminating. The hospital tried to kill the patient, whose relatives forcibly rescued him. The courts ruled in favour of the hospital and against the relatives, who were sent to prison. |
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Sheila
Porter-Williams |