Wednesday 19 July 2017

Restraints in hospitals....

A patient was admitted to a mental health hospital in Japan.
For 10 days he was tied hands and feet to the bed.
After 10 days he had a heart attack - the family suspect Deep Vein Thrombosis.......Economy Class Syndrome...whatever it is you want to call it.

Lack of movement and exercise in a mental health hospital. Restraints.
Something apparently long criticized as inhumane by international commentators.

Sound familiar?

A very sad story about a Kiwi English teacher in Japan.
you can read it here. 


Okaasan is doing ok. DS told me.

He went to see her Sunday. She was up in the wheelchair and trying and failing to stand. She had lunch at the table in the day room. She chatted to him. He came away happy. This week the physical therapy will start.

Tomorrow Dear Son will meet case worker and social worker......

4 comments:

  1. I read that story this morning and immediately thought of your MIL's experience. I hope she gets stronger with the physical therapy. Good wishes for the meeting tomorrow!

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    1. Isn't it? I read it with growing horror...AND he was a young man! Teaching kids in Japan! NOt really a candidate for a heart attack. Awful. I feel glad we got Okaasan out of that situation....

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  2. A friend of mine had her elderly father (with mild dementia) put in the hospital because of a heart condition. He was restrained because he kept pulling at his oxygen mask (I don't blame him - those are very uncomfortable). They wouldn't even let her take off the restraints during visits, and sure enough he died (I'm pretty sure due to congestive heart failure). That is an example of death by hospital, because he was restrained and laying flat 24/7, his old circulatory system couldn't take it. This was a Japanese hospital.

    I've been reading for a long time, but I have never commented. You will always have to be vigilant about that, and be careful with IV's as well. Elderly people with weakened hearts cannot handle IV's well and that can cause them to have congestive heart failure. I know it's hard in Japan, but you can use your "gaijin card" and speak frankly more so than Dear Son, because doctors expect non-Japanese to be outspoken.

    I hope the situation improves and Okaasan will stabilize enough so that she can resume her carefree life at home for at least a few more years.

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    1. Hi there - thanks for commenting :-) Yes....it's a dilemma..because you CAN see it from the hospital point of view, that a busy system needs to contain people and keep them safe...but for the individual...it's a huge negative...emotionally and physically. I REALLY don't want to be old in the Japanese health care system....although i'm not sure the Uk will be any better.

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