I understand it's good for family to be around. I don't understand the lack of care if they can't be there constantly though. My Mom feels like she needs to be there , awake all night to ensure care. Also it seems like what they require consent for vs what they will force on people is all about the convenience to the staff, and doesn't appear to be about patient care.
Generally, hospital staff cannot force anything on people if they are competent to make decisions. That competency has to be determined by the doctor. Patients have the right to refuse medications, treatments, food. They only loose this right when they are a danger to themselves or others- and again are assessed as being incapable to make those decisions ( temporarily or permanently). Family comes in very handy because they often are better able to convince a relative that staff that is unknown to the patient.
I don’t know how it is in mental health, but since NS got a new law a year ago, it has become a serious matter in our hospital.
Yes, it is the same in this province. The grey area, as I see it, concerns the whole issue of capacity to give consent. With the elderly who are declining cognitively it becomes extremely subjective.
That was not my experience. I had a good long conversation with my surgeon about no solumedrol was agreed to. Denied it when a nurse tried to give it (without actually stating what it was, I asked). Then the anesthesiologist started the drip behind my back without saying a word to me - that felt quite forced on me. I was also physically held down when I was going under and they had a mask on me. I tried fighting first and then not fighting but calmly signalling, either way both people wouldn't let go. I hadn't been given my mouthwash yet my hematologist ordered which I was trying to communicate - I really feel like the put me out without consent.
That could be a sign of delirium, caused by infection, which is reversible. It can last up to 6 months! Difficult to judge is when delirium happens on top of dementia and one is waiting for it to clear, but then it turns out the dementia has gotten worse.
Exactly. And how do hospital staff decide if someone in this situation has capacity or not? In my experience with elderly parents in hospital it is an inconsistent thing. The cynical part of me says if the patient consents to what staff want, they don't worry much about the capacity question.
