Treatment of the dying revealed in shock report
Wednesday May 12 2010
THE harrowing ordeals endured by the dying and lack of respect given to the dead have been revealed in the first major report on death in Ireland.
In some cases detailed in the report, funeral directors have taken away a child's remains in the boot of a car or in a plastic bag, causing distress to families.
Relatives have also told of being handed deceased loved-one's soiled clothing in a plastic bag.
The testimonies are contained in the report from the Irish Hospice Foundation after a year-long forum on care of the dying, which gathered the views of members of the public, health staff and support organisations.
The report warns that despite Irish people believing they are 'good at death', the large funerals and send-offs sometimes give a distorted impression.
The report highlighted how:
- A 99-year-old woman who was dying in hospital was surrounded by "bedlam" as visitors to another patient were allowed to talk loudly, laugh and use their mobile phones.
- A woman lay dying in a county hospital to the sound of "non-stop television" and drilling in the corridor outside her ward.
- Doctors discussed a child's terminal illness in front of the young patient against her mother's wishes.
- Relatives of a dying patient waited all day to speak to a doctor but were told at 5pm he had left two hours earlier.
- Some patients are dying in hospital wards which have up to 12 other sick people in the room, with nothing but a curtain for privacy.
- Many older residents in nursing homes are needlessly transferred to general hospitals because the homes are understaffed.
The report also highlights the financial pressures faced by relatives, who can face funeral bills of up to €6,500. Hospital car parking charges are also a burden and fixed-price tickets can be difficult to get.
In light of the findings, the forum has proposed a comprehensive action plan which calls for a national strategy for end of life, covering a range of areas which includes regulation of the funeral industry.
It wants the implementation of new standards for the care of the dying in hospital, which will be launched next week, and more single rooms for those who want to die in privacy.
There also needs to be mortuary standards and regulations covering the care of remains after death, the report states.
The way should also be cleared to allow people have advanced care planning, which would direct how they should be treated at the end of their life.
The public has until June 18 to comment on the plan.
The report and plan will form the basis for a newly established national council, chaired by Judge Catherine McGuinness, which will set out a timetable and implementation blueprint.
A spokesman for the Irish Hospice Foundation said: "This is the first time any country has asked its citizens nationally to state their views on death, dying and bereavement."
- Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent
Irish Independent
