Apology but No Accountability in Starvation Death of Martin Ryan
The hospital that allowed Marin Ryan to starve to death has issued a statement telling Martin's parents and the country that all concerned are very, very sorry that they allowed him to starve to death over 26 days and "die in agony."From the story:
Chief executive Kate Grimes said the trust had apologised personally to Mr Ryan's parents, and that the staff involved 'very much regret' his death.
That's all well and good, and I have no doubt the apology is sincere. But it is inadequate to the profound wrong that occurred in this case. Where is the accountability? Where are the resignations? Why haven't--apparently--any of the derelict caregivers been fired or disciplined by the hospital and their professional organizations? Indeed, why nearly four years after Martin's death is the matter still at the inquiry stage?
She said the communications breakdown was 'inexcusable and our staff have learned very serious lessons'. She added: 'Personally, I would also like to say we feel for Mr Ryan's parents over the loss of their much-loved son. We know we cannot make things better for them but we have made major changes to ensure another similar tragedy does not occur.
I have no doubt that if Martin did not have Down syndrome, heads would have figuratively rolled. Indeed, it isn't vindictiveness but simple justice that demands that this case not be allowed to rest with a simple apology, no matter how sincere or abject.
posted by Wesley J. Smith @ 5:58 PM
5 Comments
5 Comments:
"Their much-loved son" is almost an insult. It's patronizing. They make a big point of saying how they've made changes -- not to lose business. Where ARE the firings, resignations, etc.? The whole staff is responsible, and certainly whoever is in charge is. The place should have been closed by the authorities. These institutions value themselves more than they do their patients. Four years and nothing but an apology?
I am soooo unconvinced that this was an accident.
Of course it wasn't an accident. There are too many people in a hospital who see a patient for it to have been an accident. The hospital's administration sets the agenda. If the agenda weren't intentional, someone would have been able to do something, felt free to report, not run into opposition when they did report, not had to fear for their job if they did report, etc. If it were an accident, that would mean that the hospital is so disorganized that it shouldn't be open, which, either way, it shouldn't. But that kind of disorganization corresponds with a hospital administration that would have such things happen intentionally. The apology itself, with no one having been held accountable, is an indication that it was no accident.
"Very much regret his death." They should be extending their wrists for handcuffs, or at least, since that seems to exceed the limits of their character, changind their names and putting on fake noses and mustaches or slipping out of town before the law can catch up with them.
I know. If I were the family, I would sue for every penny the hospital had.
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