Mencap's Response To Six Lives: The Provision Of Public Services To People With Learning Disabilities, UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 26 Mar 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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Mark Goldring, chief executive of learning disability charity Mencap, said:

"The Ombudsman's reports are a damning indictment of NHS care for people with a learning disability. They confirm the findings in Mencap's Death by Indifference report of the widespread failure by health professionals to provide the proper level of care and highlight an appalling catalogue of neglect of people with a learning disability.

"There is clear evidence in the Ombudsman's reports that several doctors failed in their duty of care and in their legal responsibility under the Disability Discrimination Act. Health professionals ignored their patient's agonising pain, they failed in a number of cases to successfully diagnose the health problem until it was too late and they ultimately contributed to the unnecessary deaths of their patients.

"Mencap believes the Ombudsman should have been more critical of the failure of GPs to obey disability and human rights law. We cannot agree with the Ombudsman's conclusions that some of the actions taken were acceptable because other doctors would have acted in the same way. We welcome her overall findings in respect of the message to all health professionals that the rights of people with a learning disability must be respected, including their right to good quality health care. We would, however, have liked to see individuals held accountable where they have not met required standards.

"Although the reports are a big step forward for people with a learning disability, it is not the end of the journey for all the families. We will continue to fight for justice for the families and, with them, consider referring the individual doctors who failed in their duty of care to the General Medical Council."

Source
Mencap

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