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Sunday, December 30, 2012

Geoff Plant 5

For the past few days it has been very difficult for Randy as he didn't want to return to GPC.  At St. Paul's he was being treated beyond his infection. I do not understand where these infections are suddently coming from.  I suspect VCH doesn't even want to know where they come from.  Investigating causation would hurt the $bottom line.

At St.Paul's he was given a pm valve so he could talk (whisper), he was given breathing exercises,I was giving him mild bed physio, he was given motivation and hope.  These past few days he have been terribly depressed and he won't do anything. 

As for me I am totally exhausted.  With three admissions to VGH, and two to St. Paul's for treatable life threatening infections and DNRs to cancel, it will take me a bit to recover. 

This Christmas season has no reason for me to remember anything.  It is as if it never happened. 

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Geoff Plant 4

Randy looked so healthy today.  St. Paul's did wonders for him. Finally, I think staff has come to the realization that I am also part of Vancouver Coastal Health.  I cannot understand how they can divide people like they do.  They can't deal just with Randy; they also have to deal with me.  What happens to Randy also affects me and I am part of VCH.
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Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Geoff Plant 3

As expected without notice St. Paul's transferred Randy without his consent or mine at 3:00 pm Monday December 24 2012. back to GPC.  Now he faces Christmas in an institution he doesn't want to be in.  St. Paul's didn't even tell him of the decision.

I received no assurances that anything will be done to ensure Randy will be more safe at his "home."
No one even told me if he fully recovered from his pneumonia. 

Vancouver Coastal Health has no fear.  Maybe a plea to the public not to donate money to St. Paul's or VGH might be more effective.  

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Sunday, December 23, 2012

Geoff Plant 2

I was hoping by now that I would receive written confirmation that Randy was FULL CODE at GPC.  Even if I did it does not discount that Randy is not safe at GPC (when he is returned without him wanting to and I being forced to convince him) would still be outstanding.

I suspect the reason Geoff Plant can't help us is because to do so would be an admission by Vancouver Coastal Health that Randy is not getting the standard of care he is entitled to.

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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Geoff Plant...604-891-1186

I received an email from Geoff Plant yesterday saying that he could not help us.  Geoff Plant is the Chair of Providence Health (St. Paul's Hospital).  If he can't help us, who can.

When I was talking to Chris Shaw, Patient Relations, from St. Paul's yesterday, Bob Chapman's counterpart, he sounded just like Bob Chapman, so no help there. He said that Randy would be returned to GPC although Randy does not want to go there because it is unsafe

Later today I spoke to the social worker at St. Paul's.  She said that Randy was going to be returned to GPC without him even going upstairs to recover. When I argued that it was not safe for Randy to return to GPC her comment was that she had no evidence.  It is not her to make the determine if GPC is safe for Randy or not.  It is up to her to make sure a full investigation is done and concluded before Randy is transferred anywhere. Her job is to make sure Randy is safe.  Randy became pissed off with me as she did not include him in the discussion. And I couldn't tell him him that St. Paul's was going to send him back. It was just too hard not knowing how he would react. I will have to leave that until Thursday.

Randy of course does not want to go there.  He wants to stay at St. Pauls.

Last time Randy was moved from VGH to GPC he was terrified when he realized where he was going, he pulled out his trach when he reached GPC..  He also has a history of self-harming himself.  But his psychological state means nothing.

I still cannot fanthom how they could even consider a DNR order when he is clinically depressed. As soon as Randy is returned to GPC, the DNR order will be reinstated and this time the staff will make sure that I am not privy to any health complications. Randy cannot change his mind only Dr. Done can make that determination. Randy doesn't even have to sign anything; only Done's word is regal. Representation agreements are a joke.  If staff think a family member might influence a loved one, the family member is excluded from everything. There is already a dictate by Ro Ang saying No Conversation with You, Audrey. How can I make sure Randy is being cared for it I can't talk to anyone and my visiting hours are restricted to the point that I might as well not be there. On Thursday last (a week ago tomorrow) Randy's lawyer was to get the DNR removed and I haven't heard a word from him although he promised to tell me of his success last Friday.  You can't trust the medical system, you can't trust your lawyer, who can you trust.

It is not Randy's fault that his injuries are such that GPC cannot treat him properly and it is too expensive to keep him in an acute care hospital. 

No other institution would force anyone to return to an abusive dangerous situation expect for Vancouver Coastal Health and also now St Paul's: a hospital that values life and family and religion..

The definition of abuse is any action or inaction by any person that causes harm or risk of harm to a person.  I suspect VCH gets around the definition by saying that VCH is not a person.Abuse includes physical, emotional, or mental harm and neglect.

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Saturday, December 15, 2012

Randy has Septisemia

The all powerful Dr. James Dunn.  No one is going to tell him what to do.

Randy was admitted to St. Pauls at approximately 3:00 pm Friday December 14 2012 with septic shock.  As I walked up the driveway to see Randy an ambulance and an ambulance supervisor's vehicle was also entering GPC.  I wondered who the ambulance was for: who was dead?  I phoned security because I am not allowed on the ward 2 unless I am escorted and when I entered the ward it was Randy who had the paramedics who were trying to make sure he was alive.  And the only thing I could think of was was the DNR removed.  Randy's body was violently shutting down.  I am not sure what the medics did but they somewhat stabilized Randy as they transferred him from his bed to a stretcher.  Randy was scared as he reached out to me to save him.  It was honorific that his life had come to this.  This meaning the neglect and substandard of care Randy has received.

Emergency at St. Pauls attached him to an IV as he was terribly dehydrated and administered antibiotics.  The best I could tell is that staff at GPC was negligent is that he had not peed for a long time and the pee backed up into his bladder and got infected.  There is a pee bag and one of the things staff is suppose to do is make sure he passes urine.  His heart rate was elevated and it could have stopped at any time. And if I wasn't there to argue full code he could have passed. Once you are labelled DNR your standard of care rapidly diminishes and do not think otherwise: you are sidelined. There is a movement in the state of New York of doctors who will not be a party to a DNR.   I am now in the same dilemma as I was last week.  Randy is full code at St. Pauls but as soon as he is returned to the all powerful environment of Dr. James Dunn he will be DNR. Each time Randy has been hospitalized it could be 95% attributed to substandard care.

On Thursday December 13 2012 after seeing a lawyer I sent this email to all those concerned to make sure Randy was FULL CODE.

Randy and I attended a lawyer this afternoon and he after a long discussion with Randy asking questions only lawyers know how to ask determined that Randy wants FULL CODE.  He said he will try to get in touch wtih Dr. Dunn tomorrow.  

In any event this is notice that Randy is to be FULL CODE as of now.

I will never forgive any of you for ambushing Randy who alledgedly agreed to this sentence of death.  I want to know where did the idea of the DNR originate when Randy is not terminally ill or in pain.  And this two days after Randy's annual meeting where it was stated that Randy was full code.  And above all why wasn't I included in the initial conversation considering Randy has said that I was to be included in all discussions respecting his treatment and housing.  If I do not get a decent answer from you I am going to assume it is a directive from Napolean Ostrow and his Josephine to cut costs.  I see no other reason for it.

In addition to my email the lawyer also sent an email on Thursday to Ro Ang, the manager, of GPC notifying her of his determination and for Randy to be given full medical care.. I sent my email to make sure everyone was aware.

On December 14, 2012 at 3:47 an email was sent by the social working who advised that Randy is still DNR as Dr. Dunn did not change it.  The social worker should have immediately changed the CODE as such  intervention was time sensitive.  He knew and all the others he emailed to by that time that Randy was on his way to St. Pauls and he never did anything.  This is totally criminal what he and the others  he comspired with did nothing.  If I didn't have the whereitall to check his Codings with the ambulance attendant and upon arrival at Emergency no one would have asked Randy if he still wanted DNR , Randy could have died.  Emergency told me if I did not bring it to its attention he would have been treated as a DNR. If I hadn't arrived when the ambulance was there I would have never known what happened. Dunn shold have put the coding on abeyance until as I requested Randy had legal advice, another medical opinion, and the comfort of a priest.  Dr. Dunn and everyone at GPC refused Randy these avenues because legally they do not have to ensure Randy's consults with anyone. I do not count as Randy can't change his mind everytime he talks to me as I influence him as if VCH doesn't..  Their arrogance overruled his lawyer who had no influence to change the coding because legally he is barred.  You must understand that Randy immediately changed his mind on November 28 2012 after I explained to him that he wasn't terminally ill and this designation could be a slippery slope to an early unnecessary death.  This was on November 26 2012. It is now December 18 2012.

I just phoned Adela at GPC (604-322-8370) December 17 2012,.  Nothing changes at GPC. Mostly they won't even answer or take a message.  In this case Adela said it was 7:00 am and shift change and for me to phone back and she didn't even ask me what I wanted. I said no take a message.  I am sure she never did. They never returned my voice messages. This is the type of attitude I always seem to receive when I try to phone GPC.  The only thing I wanted was for her or someone in Ward 2 to put Randy's shaving gear with his wheelchair so it will be transported to St. Paul's Hospital where he is now.  All evening yesterday I was trying to call and the phone was always busy. On December 18 2012 the nursing staff at St. Paul's tried all late afternoon and evening to get in touch with Ward 2 and again the phone was busy and voice mail was disengaged.





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Friday, December 14, 2012

The DNR is still there

I have been trying the best I can to get the DNR removed but Dr. Dunn, the government appointment physician, has not removed it.

From the very beginning I begged that the DNR be put on hold until Randy had legal advice, an independent medical opinion, and a priest.  All were ignored by Dr. Dunn.  And the social worker who is an officer of the court and is suppose to be looking after Randy's best interests runs from all responsibility.  DNRs are lethal instruments.  And the Public Guardian and Trustee told me that Randy does not have to tell me of his decision as it is between doctor and patient. Families don't count. The problem with this logic is that Randy cannot communicate.  He cannot talk or write. He can nod yes or no but because of his brain injury I find that at times he will say yes when he means no. 

I was so distaught about the DNR at GPC that I bundled up Randy and took him to St. Pauls for four days (he had a fever) who put him on FULL CODE and  Randy wasn't to be returned to GPC unless he remained FULL CODE.  Dr. Dunn renaged on this and Randy is still DNR.

Randy signed letters to GPC saying he wanted the DNR reversed but GPC has refused to honour his written requests.

It is like the Rousouli case which is in front of the Ontario supreme court where the doctors believe they have the right to withdraw life support against the wishes of his family..

Is it going to be too late for Randy like it has been for thousands of others who have had DNRs on them not suspecting that it would be near impossible to have them removed or worse didn't even know there was one. A DNR only has to be sign by one physician.  The patient does not even sign it.  And no witnesses are required. 

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Saturday, December 8, 2012

DNR Orders

I still do not understand the rush for getting a DNR from Randy.  He is already on heavy life support so why would he now want a DNR.  Randy does not want a DNR but VCH is intend on getting one like they are under a  quota before the end of the year. I believed that Randy could change his mind but GPC said no he can't,   So once Randy agreed to a DNR he can't change his mind. Don't sound right but VCH seems to do a lot of things that do not sound right.


The decision to place a DNR order on a person’s medical chart belongs to the physician. This decision may be made without anyone’s knowledge or consent. People with developmental disabilities are extremely vulnerable to DNR orders if they have no one in their lives to advocate for them. Consequently, people with developmental disabilities are sometimes not given life saving interventions when they might otherwise be given the intervention if the disability were not present.
(contact BCACL 604.777.9100)

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Things are a bit better....

Things are getting a bit better for me with Randy now that I am allowed to enter Ward 2 and stay with Randy for one-half hour sometimes it is extended to one hour.  If he doesn't feel up to getting up I make sure he is comfortable, we chat a bit, and I make sure his television is on.

I do not have to take my valium any more as I access George Pearson Centre in anticipation of the stress of waiting and waiting and waiting for staff to bring Randy to the visitor's room. I was so intiminated that I could not speak to anyone for the fear that I would then be subject to a report that I was combative and agressive.
Now still under security of course I can go down to his open ward bed and if he wants to go to my place or to Oakridge for a few hours, I help him get dressed and we are off.  I recently purchased him a $80,.00 rain cape that engulfs him while he is in his wheel chair outside.  He also wears a Steelers hat.  I purchased him a Steelers jacket for his birthday on December 10 2012 which I know will make him happy. He is a devote Steelers fan.

The same is when I return.  I call 4777 Paladin Security on my arrival.  They immediatley escort me down to his bed and watch me and I spend a few minutes sometimes a 1/2 hour to make sure Randy is comfortable. There is no problem; no residents are shrieking that they are afraid of me. I am not even noticed by the other residents.

Randy of course is more relaxed as he knows that I am looking after him at his bedside.  Finally I am somewhat comfortable with this arrangement but of course I would prefer 24/7 access to him like other family members have to their loved ones.

I am hoping to access the ethics committee for a ruling to say a two year ban based on staff and visitors who have nothing else to do but target a 70 year old lady and bully her until she had a verbal outburst with staff over giving a stuff toy to a resident is unreasonable.  The LPN grabbed it out of my hand and he told me the resident did not need it.  And after two years the LPN is till working there making decisions for residents.  The Santa Clause stuffed toy remained for months in the nurses station.

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