What would you do? Verbal patient abuse.

titanium4motion · 04-23-2012, 08:57 PM

I had to shop at Walmart this evening and I saw a man in his 40's in a chrome 'chair being pushed by guy name G1. With him was guy 2 name G2. I didn't particular pay attention to him.

As I was getting into my van G2 put the groceries in the cargo area and faced forward in the passenger seat of the tall van. G1 was verbally abusing the guy in the 'chair in a very mean tone of voice. I was having a little problem with flap going down on my lift since I was on uneven surface. Once I got in I wrote down the description of the men, van color and plate number and the name of the place where they were from. Actually I was shocked because serving on the Lorain Advocacy Board for People with Disabilities for 15 years, we as a group always heard good things about this place.

What really struck me was they went to a Walmart 12 miles away where there is one less than a mile away which is a Super-Walmart!

The guy in the 'chair appeared to have a mental development type disability but I was able to get his first name and description.

If that was my father in that 'chair I would have said something.

Telephoning the director of this place and putting a compliant in the right thing to do? Makes me now wonder what goes on inside the care facility.

Ti

gjnl · 04-23-2012, 09:09 PM

Verbal abuse and physical abuse, especially in this kind of medical care situation should not be tolerated. When do you decide to get involved...i.e., if you see a husband being verbally abusive to his wife, a mother giving her child an excessively harsh punishment, what do you do? In your capacity on the Advocacy Board for People with Disabilities, I think letting the director of the facility know what you saw, is a reasonable thing to do. But, knowing when and how to get involved in other people's business is always a difficult call.

All the best,
GJ

lynnifer · 04-23-2012, 09:11 PM

I say bravo to you.

On the other hand, if he has violent tendencies, maybe there's a reason they went all the way to another WalMart and there were 2 men with him.

Who knows? But great to follow up just in case!

LindaT · 04-23-2012, 10:42 PM

What a sad thing to witness. I'm glad you took the time to write the info down.
It does make you wonder what happens in private.

faceplant · 04-23-2012, 10:47 PM

Good for you!!!

Scorpion · 04-23-2012, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by titanium4motion

Telephoning the director of this place and putting a compliant in the right thing to do?

Absolutely.

SCI-Nurse · 04-23-2012, 11:10 PM

You can also file a report with Adult Protective Services.

(KLD)

Cripply · 04-24-2012, 12:07 AM

In many States there is actually a duty to report, in this case to whatever Department deals with adults with physical or mental disabilities (if the abuse is perpetrated by a relative or caretaker) or to the organization that licenses the facility ( in this case). calling the director will accomplish little because chances are he will not want to get the place in trouble. I would go higher up.

titanium4motion · 05-04-2012, 02:54 PM

Touchy subject.

I was told to put it in writing and mail it.

End.

Ti

LindaT · 05-04-2012, 07:46 PM

Who told you to do that? Where are you supposed to mail it?
Sad, but at least you have tried.

04-23-2012, 08:57 PM	#1
titanium4motion Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Oberlin, Ohio Posts: 749	What would you do? Verbal patient abuse. I had to shop at Walmart this evening and I saw a man in his 40's in a chrome 'chair being pushed by guy name G1. With him was guy 2 name G2. I didn't particular pay attention to him. As I was getting into my van G2 put the groceries in the cargo area and faced forward in the passenger seat of the tall van. G1 was verbally abusing the guy in the 'chair in a very mean tone of voice. I was having a little problem with flap going down on my lift since I was on uneven surface. Once I got in I wrote down the description of the men, van color and plate number and the name of the place where they were from. Actually I was shocked because serving on the Lorain Advocacy Board for People with Disabilities for 15 years, we as a group always heard good things about this place. What really struck me was they went to a Walmart 12 miles away where there is one less than a mile away which is a Super-Walmart! The guy in the 'chair appeared to have a mental development type disability but I was able to get his first name and description. If that was my father in that 'chair I would have said something. Telephoning the director of this place and putting a compliant in the right thing to do? Makes me now wonder what goes on inside the care facility. Ti __________________ "We must overcome difficulties rather than being overcome by difficulties."

04-23-2012, 09:11 PM	#3
lynnifer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Windsor ON Canada Posts: 15,313	I say bravo to you. On the other hand, if he has violent tendencies, maybe there's a reason they went all the way to another WalMart and there were 2 men with him. Who knows? But great to follow up just in case! __________________ I think over again my small adventures, My fears, Those small ones that seemed so big, For all the vital things I had to get and to reach; And yet there is only one great thing, The only thing, To live to see the great day that dawns And the light that fills the world. Anonymous (Inuit, 19th century) T-11 Flaccid Paraplegic due to TM July 1985 @ age 12

04-23-2012, 10:47 PM	#5
faceplant Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: MN Posts: 110	Good for you!!! __________________ ACDF C5/C6, C6/C7 9/2011& Central Cord Syndrome

05-04-2012, 02:54 PM	#9
titanium4motion Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Oberlin, Ohio Posts: 749	Follow up. Touchy subject. I was told to put it in writing and mail it. End. Ti __________________ "We must overcome difficulties rather than being overcome by difficulties."

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

04-23-2012, 09:09 PM	#2
gjnl Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 5,050	Verbal abuse and physical abuse, especially in this kind of medical care situation should not be tolerated. When do you decide to get involved...i.e., if you see a husband being verbally abusive to his wife, a mother giving her child an excessively harsh punishment, what do you do? In your capacity on the Advocacy Board for People with Disabilities, I think letting the director of the facility know what you saw, is a reasonable thing to do. But, knowing when and how to get involved in other people's business is always a difficult call. All the best, GJ

04-23-2012, 10:42 PM	#4
LindaT Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: MN Posts: 7,752	What a sad thing to witness. I'm glad you took the time to write the info down. It does make you wonder what happens in private.

04-23-2012, 11:10 PM	#7
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,345	You can also file a report with Adult Protective Services. (KLD)

04-24-2012, 12:07 AM	#8
Cripply Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Iowa Posts: 899	In many States there is actually a duty to report, in this case to whatever Department deals with adults with physical or mental disabilities (if the abuse is perpetrated by a relative or caretaker) or to the organization that licenses the facility ( in this case). calling the director will accomplish little because chances are he will not want to get the place in trouble. I would go higher up.

05-04-2012, 07:46 PM	#10
LindaT Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: MN Posts: 7,752	Who told you to do that? Where are you supposed to mail it? Sad, but at least you have tried.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Is verbal abuse a normal sign of caregiver burnout?	Jack21222	Caregiving	34	10-16-2011 10:02 AM
half thru college nursing home verbal abuse 22	dubanium	Life	8	10-05-2008 08:09 PM
verbal appetite	adi chicago	Life	1	12-12-2006 06:15 PM
Patient-To-Patient HCV Transmission Traced To Colonoscopy	Raven	Health & Science News	0	01-09-2006 11:17 PM
Putzke, et al. (2002). Pain classification following spinal cord injury: the utility of verbal descriptors	Wise Young	Neuropathic Pain Research	0	03-16-2002 06:05 AM