guardians_song (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
guardians_song) wrote2013-04-01 06:19 pm
guardians_song) wrote2013-04-01 06:19 pm
Entry tags:
Hospital allegedly attempting to deny autistic activist Amanda Baggs lifesaving care
[Copied over from the original friends-locked ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lumiere42 with permission]
Baggs, the nonverbal US autistic activist from "In My Language" and Loud Hands: Autistic People, Speaking, has long had medical issues with gastroparesis (stomach paralysis). It has progressed to the point where it forces her to live on an entirely liquid diet. It also frequently causes her to aspirate fluid into her lungs, which has given her several recent life-threatening bouts with pneumonia.
The standard treatment for gastroparesis with these complications is having a feeding tube put in.
Baggs entered the hospital, Fletcher Allen Health Services, on Thursday. According to her and her DPA:
-FAHC attempted to deny Baggs entry unless she had an aide from developmental disability services with her there at all times (despite never having required this when Baggs was in that hospital before).
-FAHC tried to release Baggs the next morning, despite her clearly still being quite sick.
-Despite a feeding tube being standard best practice, FAHC staff have been continually delaying the procedure, with...interesting...excuses (i.e. saying they need to consult her old doctor when it's not necessary).
-Baggs says that, when she told a nurse she wants all measures necessary taken to save her life, the nurse responded by laughing (!)
-Baggs' advocate says personnel tried to claim Baggs was only having "sensations" of aspiration, despite CAT scans clearly showing aspirated crud in her lungs.
-Baggs and her advocate both say that, this morning, a staff member (med student) tried to talk them out of the feeding tube procedure (despite acknowledging that it's standard best practice).
As of Sunday afternoon, Baggs says the staff are discussing the feeding tube procedure again (mostly due to her advocate's pressure).
Baggs' account of these events:
http://youneedacat.tumblr.com/post/46772.
Her advocate's account:
http://webmuskie.tumblr.com/post/4675516.
Folks, it looks like they've been trying to avoid giving Baggs care she needs to not end up dying of starvation or aspiration pneumonia. This is TOTALLY unacceptable.
It'll probably really help Baggs' case if FAHC gets tons o' negative feedback about this:
Web contact form:
https://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news.
http://www.facebook.com/fletcherallenhea
http://fletcherallenblog.wordpress.com/
Phone: 802-847-0000 (main) or 802-847-2000 (FAHC Clinical Ethics Office)
Anyone who wants to send Baggs supportive messages can reach her at http://youneedacat.tumblr.com
lumiere42 with permission]Baggs, the nonverbal US autistic activist from "In My Language" and Loud Hands: Autistic People, Speaking, has long had medical issues with gastroparesis (stomach paralysis). It has progressed to the point where it forces her to live on an entirely liquid diet. It also frequently causes her to aspirate fluid into her lungs, which has given her several recent life-threatening bouts with pneumonia.
The standard treatment for gastroparesis with these complications is having a feeding tube put in.
Baggs entered the hospital, Fletcher Allen Health Services, on Thursday. According to her and her DPA:
-FAHC attempted to deny Baggs entry unless she had an aide from developmental disability services with her there at all times (despite never having required this when Baggs was in that hospital before).
-FAHC tried to release Baggs the next morning, despite her clearly still being quite sick.
-Despite a feeding tube being standard best practice, FAHC staff have been continually delaying the procedure, with...interesting...excuses (i.e. saying they need to consult her old doctor when it's not necessary).
-Baggs says that, when she told a nurse she wants all measures necessary taken to save her life, the nurse responded by laughing (!)
-Baggs' advocate says personnel tried to claim Baggs was only having "sensations" of aspiration, despite CAT scans clearly showing aspirated crud in her lungs.
-Baggs and her advocate both say that, this morning, a staff member (med student) tried to talk them out of the feeding tube procedure (despite acknowledging that it's standard best practice).
As of Sunday afternoon, Baggs says the staff are discussing the feeding tube procedure again (mostly due to her advocate's pressure).
Baggs' account of these events:
http://youneedacat.tumblr.com/post/46772.
Her advocate's account:
http://webmuskie.tumblr.com/post/4675516.
Folks, it looks like they've been trying to avoid giving Baggs care she needs to not end up dying of starvation or aspiration pneumonia. This is TOTALLY unacceptable.
It'll probably really help Baggs' case if FAHC gets tons o' negative feedback about this:
Web contact form:
https://www.fletcherallen.org/about/news.
http://www.facebook.com/fletcherallenhea
http://fletcherallenblog.wordpress.com/
Phone: 802-847-0000 (main) or 802-847-2000 (FAHC Clinical Ethics Office)
Anyone who wants to send Baggs supportive messages can reach her at http://youneedacat.tumblr.com