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Saturday, September 22, 2012

I Found Ray

I found Ray.  It wasn't that difficult.  I went up to the PAU (Psych Assessment Unit) at Vancouver General Hospital.  I introduced myself explaining that I would like to visit him.

Upon visiting Ray he said that he wanted me to phone legal aid as he wanted out of the PSU and he gave me a phone number.  The phone number was incorrect.  I then went to the nurses station to ask them for a phone number for a mental health advocate.

The three nurses there explained that Ray did not need a lawyer as he was not CERTIFIED and he was there of his own free will and he could leave at any time..

I asked Ray did he know this and he said NO.

I do not understand Vancouver Coastal Health.

George Pearson Centre  won't give out his forwarding address/location after he was abruptly moved from his bed two weeks ago Friday as reported to me by other residents at GPC.(it is the policy of VCH not to tell anyone any new location and that includes other residents) and yet Ray's liberty and security of person was taken away from him as he was imprisoned in a ward under lock at VGH and that violation of Ray's human rights by VCH seems to be okay.






 


Thursday, September 13, 2012

Where is Ray

The same thing that happened to me when Randy was transferred to George Pearson Centre in 2011 has now happened to Ray, a resident at GPC.  No one know where he is.  On Friday I was told he was carted out in an ambulance to VGH.  On Sunday I went to VGH to visit him and was told that he wasn't there.  I then asked the social worker at GPC and he said it was against the law for him to give out any information on anyone.

I just talked to a religious minister, a priest not associated with GPC, and he said it was just as bad for him.  He can't even say hi to residents/patients in the hallway for fear he will lose his visiting privileges.  He can only see residents/patients if they ask for him.

So it is true when Nurse Rachet told me so many years ago that I was not allowed to speak to anyone unless I was spoken to first.  What a sick sick environment VCH is.  They are doing everything to make people isolated and alone. What is the point of caring when you are not allowed to care.

When I said how is Ray suppose to know if I want to visit him if I can't ask him because  I do not know where he is. The social worker said it was the law.  There are ways of interpreting the law and VCH has done it to save money and maintain the status quo. I am currently waiting for a copy of the law I asked him to give to me.

I am very worried about Ray.  He was telling me for weeks that he was being given meds that made him think crazy.  If he has gone crazy and he does not want to see me okay but if he has gone crazy and he wants to see me then that is something else.

When Randy disappeared in 2010 I was devastated. It doesn't matter if you are family, friend or foe.  VGH will tell no one where they move you.  You are just gone.
 
An argument can be made that everyone's "security of person" is taken away when hospitals hide behind privacy. How can anyone be secure in a hospital setting that hides (imprisons) patients.

If a visitor harasses a resident/patient then there are criminal sanctions.  When did VCH decide to separate friends and family from visiting patients by making contact so difficult that a caring person gives to frustration and a sense of helplessness. And the patient/resident thinks that no one cares and not even knowing a no contact order has been placed on him and all mail is returned to sender. What of the pyschological pain this is causing. Who is responsible for that.

Remember Policeman Dave Dixon who told the sister of one of Pickton's victims for the sister not to worry because the sister was in rehab and didn't want anyone to visit. This went on for two years.  If the police can lie so can VCH.

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Monday, September 10, 2012

Fall is here

I returned Randy to GPC and he did not resist which relieved me.  We earlier ventured to Hastings and Nanaimo area where we used to live.  After buying marrow bones for the doggies we came back here and Randy sat outside as he hates being inside until 6:00 p.m.  We then watched a documentary about garbage mostly plastics in the oceans.  It was very disturbing.

Yesterday being Sunday Randy and I went to Vancouver General Hospital to visit Rod, one of the residents from Ward 2, who was there post operation.  Randy could not remember the six months he spent there.  I suspect it was because he never left his room. After that we found our way to the Holiday Inn on Broadway and upon purchasing a  sandwich in its lounge Randy watched the ending segment of a NFL football game and I read the Georgia Straight.  When we got to my place he sat outside until about 6:00 and then we watched a documentary on science.  It started to rain and I had to return him to GPC in yellow plastic as I did not have a rain coat for him here.  It must be very difficult for him being cared for like a baby and wheeled up and down in a yellow baby carriage.

I am distressed over an email I received from Lois of SeniorsatRisk.org.  I emailed her and said that I had mentioned her blog in my blog and she swiftly emailed me back threatening me with legal action.  No good deed goes unpunished.

I am really upset about my site meter.  About a month ago, the count disappeared.  It was ocwe 110,000 and now nothing. Now I feel that I do not have an audience and it is difficult to post to nothingness.

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Saturday, September 1, 2012

Seniorsatrisk.org

I had occasion to speak with Risk Management this past week and the knowledge that this bureaucracy did not know of Seniors at Risk disquieted me.  How could it not know.  Randy always said that the Internet would cause the end of society.  And he is right.  Society as we know it now. The medical system is going to change and it will do so rapidly.  The Arab Spring is near but VCH is not aware of it.  How can such an important message found in Seniors at Risk not even interest top management. 

Two cases reported in Seniors at Risk recanted the ordeal of two women, both doctors, who were banned from hospitals because they questioned the standard of care their loved ones were getting got me to thinking about the standard of care Randy is getting.  And I am now afraid.  Up until now not being a medical person I never really questioned what they were doing. It was the bullying that distracted me. I just thought a red robin was a bird not a crucial aid in Randy's life. In August 2011 Randy had a Code Blue and I still haven't been told what caused it.  I think it was the lack of a red robin.  And there are still other incidents that I think about.

I had occasion to be in a public forum on Thursday and I introduced myself as being a "comfort advocate" for Randy Michael Walker.  Now I have an identity albeit one I created.


   

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