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This is why I would do pretty much anything to avoid Danny going into a hospital. Entrenched ableism means people just assume that some lives aren’t worth living or saving.I felt this when Danny was in hospital in January at the level of people’s language and decision making. 1/5 https://twitter.com/jaynemccubbintv/status/1296349840276938752
For instance, one of Danny’s cannulas came out. I watched it come out when he tried to get comfortable in bed. (He had 2 - one in each arm). A junior doctor walked in and said “Oh I hear he’s ripped out the cannula” - ripped meaning uncompliant, resistant, animal. That verb 2/5
Would never be used in relation to a neurotypical patient whose cannula had slipped out. & then there was the nurse who looked at him & said “can he walk?” and then when I said he was great at sport, said “oh what a shame he’s like that”. & finally, the consultant who decided 3/5
to prescribe Halperidol (an antipsychotic) even though Danny was/is neither psychotic & didn’t need a chemical cosh to recover from a tear in his windpipe. If I hadn’t known what Halperidol is then he would have been given it without any discussion. He was treated well in A&E 4/5
But our experience in hospital revealed how far we have to go. I can’t imagine what might have happened if he was alone there. And I would fear for his life in a hospital full of people with COVID-19. He is 19, beautiful, loved and loving and his life matters.
