Refusal of treatment

[andy-hughes]

A largely ignored story was debated on Jeremy Vine's show today -

an extreme anti-abortionist in his 70's forwarded temprary address details to his local hospital regarding his proplsed hip replacement, and he enclosed graphic photos of discarded foetuses wich caused severe upset on receipt, and caused the Chief Exec. to cry. This gentleman has been to prison 19 times for his actions in drawing attention to abortion and 'sodomite' pornography. After issuing a number of warnings about his conduct, the hospital have now refused to allow this gentleman to receive his hip replacement.

Right or wrong? And why?

[Oneeyedvic]

Gut instinct - Right:

A hip replacement is not life threating - it will certainly help the man, but he can live (albeit in pain) without one. If he wants to terrorise people then he must bear the consequences of his actions.

[WoWo]

Totally right in my opinion. Things like the NHS are there for the good of society, if you fail to conform to the rules of that society then I can't see a problem with you not getting the benefits of it.

As Oneeyedvic says its not going to result in his death so he can do without and let somebody more deserving have a chance.

[caz21]

ER, The name george best springs to mind....!!!

If hospitals can pick and choose who to treat where does that leave anyone!

"ooh no sorry mr best you've been drinking all your life its your own fault your liver is damaged no you cant have another now go away... oh and maybe we wont bother giving you dialisis either!"

He needed one, he got one even though people complained he didnt deserve it (RIP George!)

I know this is not exactly the same and i do not mean to sound offensive in any way to george best but i mean how can we refuse to treat people just because they are criminals have brought it on themselves etc.

Do murderers and other criminals in prison get refused treatment too?? no! so why should this man?

I do not agree with what he has done but he is still human!

[JackDanielsU]

The staff at hospitals deserve the right not to be abused. If thats in letter form, picture form, words etc it doesnt matter. They have the right to work in a safe enviroment.

This idiot whatever his views is not at risk. He was warned, he chose to ignore these warnings...so he has noone to blame but himself

[jay139]

Totally agree with the refusal to treat him, I work in the NHS, and there is usually no back up when faced with abusive behavior.
This gentleman has been abusive, and threatening in his behavior, lets hope he learns that these tactics do not work.

[jno]

true caz but this guy is presumably being refused treatment not because he brought an ailment on himself but because he goes out of his way to harass hospital staff. Hospitals have to consider their staff's feelings too, and that seems reasonable - suppose he was abusing a surgeon before he went into the theatre to operate on someone else and the surgeon was so upset he/she screwed up the operation? Good organisations protect their staff from unreasonable behaviour by the public, and I think if I was a doctor or nurse I would appreciate this.

[jno]

sorry, my post crossed with jay and jack - I agree with them.

[Drusilla1S]

As has been mentioned above, his unpleasant behaviour is the reason he will not receive treatment and rightly so.

If I was to curse at my GP or dentist, I'm certain they would expect me to go elsewhere for treatment. Equally, if someone was abusive to any members of my staff, I would refuse to serve them.

[Lonnie]

I agree 100%, I can't add anymore to the posts that are in agreement with the hospital, sounds like a truly nasty person.

[ludwig]

The key thing is that he's not being refused treatment because he holds certain views - if that was the case it would be wrong.

It's because he behaves abusively towards the staff, and they have a right to be protected from that abuse. I don't care how much National Insurance he's paid over the years, you still have to follow certain rules if you expect to be let in to the hospital.

[Pippa68]

Can't you just imagine him laying there in his hospital bed handing out propaganda to his fellow patients & their visitors?

Absolutley the right decision not to treat him. He is a menace to fellow man!

[beryllium]

Hmmmmmm, so difficult a decision to make by the hospital i would think.

The chief exec cried? why? that is the envoiroment you work in, and some results are not pleasant and they (the workforce) are aware of it. Does that mean the chief exec disagrees with hospital policy? on regards to abortion?

I'm not with the whole argument here of why he was refused a hip replacement. It will not be on his criminal record or his beliefs. If it is, why? but.... because of his abusive nature, (even though his beliefs are possibly founded ie: abortion) then no, he doesnt deserve the treatment.

what i dont understand is.... what has abortion to do with his hip replacement? or is it that he doesnt believe money from the NHS should be spent on abortion?

Sodomy? now he is possibly arguing on the God front. Nothing to do with anything NHS.

I imagine this decision was not taken lightly.

p.s I thought George Best was private? there will be no morals involved in his treatment.

[feebee]

Never mind the hip, I think he is more in need of time in a mental institution!

[electricblue]

Put him out of his misery like the dog he is!!

[Vivacia]

good point feebee!

[Dom Tuk]

He paid his national insurance he gets his treatment. Was it Ok to collect his contributions during his working life then?

[hal]

The NHS has what is called a 'zero tolerance' policy towards abuse. I am an NHS manager and I can reassure you that this decision will not have been taken lightly - the gentleman in question will have received clear warnings and will have had the consequenses of continuing with the abuse explained to him. He chose to ignore it. He will have had a right of appeal, and can make a complaint to the independent Healthcare Commission, who would look at the case to ensure he has been treated fairly.

The policy is intended to protect NHS staff from abuse and violence. Any commercial business would do the same. If a customer came into Marks and Spencers and abused staff or sent in abusive or offensive messages or images they would be banned, and rightlyso.

[WoWo]

We need to get this in perspective. He hasn't been refused treatment on the NHS but at the hospital he directly targeted his campaign to.