[Blindtlk] FW: B-F LINDA'S BATTLE, AN UPDATE

[David Evans]

Dear Trish,

Very good response.
You stated, in a far more delicate way, exactly what I meant and would do in 
the situation.
You must forgive me as I do sometimes sound as if I would use a hammer 
instead of a fly swatter to smack flies.
Do you work in a job that lets you advocate?  You might be good at it.

David Evans, NFBF
MV Transit
Consumer Advocate

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "trishs" <slosser at metrocast.net>
To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 9:35 AM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: B-F LINDA'S BATTLE, AN UPDATE


> Hi, David, and all.
> I'd send the letter charging at the very least insensitivity,
> while pointing out any and all possible rights violations.  I'D
> offer to help them in the program they choose to implement,
> before a suit is actually filed.  That way it's less
> confrontational, at the same that it's forceful.  I'm sure most
> staff is aware of compliance.  Perhaps not all of the staff would
> be aware that there was and is noncompliance.  Bring it to their
> attention, and offer them a way to stay out of the newspapers,
> and court.  Stay in contact with them as they begin their
> program.  If they need over seeing, point them to the NFB to find
> resources.
> These things shouldn't be happening.  We all need to learn to be
> our own best advocate.  We're a federation of equality for the
> blind.  Let's build bridges, not gaps.
>
>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>>From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net
>>To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>Date sent: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 23:00:41 -0400
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: B-F LINDA'S BATTLE, AN UPDATE
>
>>Dear Trish,
>
>>WE always try to negotiate before we litigate, but obviously the
> staff here
>>is very insensitive to these people feelings not to mention their
> rights.
>>They need to know that these rights have been violated and the
> law only
>>gives you a certain time period in which to file, both for a
> civil suit or a
>>civil rights suit.
>>The powers that be need to know that you are serious and you aint
> going away
>>quietly.
>>Otherwise, they don't need to do anything because you aren't
> going to do
>>anything.
>>If the threat is not there, as an option, the hospital is not
> going to do
>>anything to change its habits.  Why should they.  To them nothing
> happened,
>>therefore, no action on their part is required.
>>The interference with this man's right to take his guide dog with
> him could
>>be up to a third degree felony in some states with jail time and
> a fine.
>>Most of what was done to Linda and her husband was just plain
> insensitivity
>>and can be changed with an awareness and sensitivity program.
> Hospitals
>>have to comply with the ADA too in all programs and services
> offered to the
>>General Public.
>>I don't think that this will go to a law suit, but the powers
> that be at the
>>hospital need to think it might to ensure they take action to fix
> this
>>before someone else gets the same treatment.  Some bad publicity
> will stur
>>them to action.
>
>>What would you do?
>>I am open to suggestions as to how you would ensure the hospital
> changes its
>>ways.
>
>>David Evans, NFBF
>>MV Transit
>>Consumer Advocate
>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "trishs" <slosser at metrocast.net
>>To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 4:42 PM
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: B-F LINDA'S BATTLE, AN UPDATE
>
>
>>> Hi group.  My name is Trish.  I'm a new member, and thought I'd
>>> jump in right here.  To me, this is part of what Truly Does need
>>> to be fixed in our health care system.
>>> I get it about Linda's ill treatment.  I just don't "see" where
>>> threatening to sue turns this into a positive experience.
>>> I believe there should be a mandatory Disability Awareness 101
>>> in all Medical Training Programs, where speakers in all areas of
>>> disability are invited to staff meetings or workshops.  Perhaps
>>> your well deserved letter to the powers that be should offer
>>> solutions so that this doesn't happen to others in the future?
>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net
>>>>To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List"
>>> <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>,<nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>,
> <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>,
>>> <acb-l at acb.org
>>>>Date sent: Tue, 8 Apr 2008 14:50:35 -0400
>>>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: B-F LINDA'S BATTLE, AN UPDATE
>
>
>>>>Dear John,
>
>>>>I can only say that your experience is not uncommon in dealing
>>> with hospital
>>>>staff.
>>>>Turn this negative into a positive.
>>>>Tell them you are going to sue them over their handling of
>>> Linda's situation
>>>>unless they begin a training program for the staff on how to deal
>>> with this
>>>>kind of situation so it does not happen again.
>>>>It should include access laws and regulations, common courtesy
>>> and methods
>>>>of preparing and dealing with Blind and low vision people in
>>> their charge.
>>>>I know that knee replacement hurts allot and doing the exercises
>>> everyday is
>>>>the only way it will get better and reduce the pain not to
>>> mention get your
>>>>mobility back.
>>>>It is the treatment here that is wrong.  Someone should have had
>>> the duty to
>>>>keep you informed as to her condition and status.
>>>>Treatment staff as well as housekeeping need to be trained as to
>>> what and
>>>>how to handle delivery of food and treatment procedures when
>>> dealing with
>>>>the blind and even your service dog.
>>>>If some one does not teach them what to do and that they have
>>> responsibility
>>>>to see to it that things are done right; what is to stop them
>>> from doing
>>>>this again in the future.Who at this hospital handles ADA
>>> compliance?  Why
>>>>was not the staff trained how to deal with this.
>>>>I have seen hospitals where they post a sign to tell the staff
>>> entering a
>>>>room that the person is Blind and to announce themselves upon
>>> entering the
>>>>room and exiting and what they are there for; test, housekeeping,
>>> food
>>>>services or medical treatments.
>>>>You deserve to know and be made aware of what they are doing.
>
>>>>David Evans, NFBF
>
>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>From: "Eric Calhoun" <eric at pmpmail.com
>>>>To: <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>; <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>;
>>> <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>;
>>>><acb-l at acb.org
>>>>Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 3:32 AM
>>>>Subject: [Blindtlk] FW: B-F LINDA'S BATTLE, AN UPDATE
>
>
>>>>> Hello, people, this _is blindness-related; contact Mr.  Justice
>>> for your
>>>>> thoughts.  Thank you
>
>
>>>>> Original Message:
>>>>> From: "John Justice" <johnjustice at comcast.net
>>>>> To: <blind-friends at yahoogroups.com
>>>>> Subject: B-F LINDA'S BATTLE, AN UPDATE
>>>>> Date:
>>>>> Thu, 3 Apr 2008 21:15:10 -0400
>
>>>>> Recently, my wife Linda went through a double knee replacement.
>>> her
>>>>> surgery was on February 4, and the actual operation went quite
>>> well.  But
>>>>> what happened after that is something we are still trying to
>>> understand.
>
>>>>>>From the very beginning, we knew that trouble was coming.  I
>>> brought my
>>>>> guide dog along and the staff at the Admissions desk started to
>>> give us a
>>>>> hard time about there not being enough room in the treatment
>>> area for the
>>>>> dog.  They finally shifted us to a larger room and I was able to
>>> sit on
>>>>> one
>>>>> side while Linda was being prepared for surgery.  The last thing
>>> I heard
>>>>> was her joking with people in the hallway as she was wheeled
>>> away.
>
>>>>> Her surgeon, Doctor Star, called me later to tell me that the
>>> operation
>>>>> had gone quite well.  At that time Linda was still in the
>>> Recovery Room
>>>>> and
>>>>> they wouldn't let me anywhere near her.  During an operation
>>> like this,
>>>>> the
>>>>> doctors use something called femoral blocks.  They are
>>> injections which
>>>>> are
>>>>> supposed to help with the tremendous pain.  Linda woke up to
>>> unbelievable
>>>>> agony because the injections didn't work for her at all.  They
>>> finally got
>>>>> her pain under control enough to move her up to the room where I
>>> was
>>>>> waiting.  I had been sitting there for more than 2 hours,
>>> wondering what
>>>>> had happened to Linda and getting very little information at
>>> all.
>
>>>>> During her stay at the hospital, she ran into a problem time and
>>> time
>>>>> again with staff who just didn't know how to deal with a totally
>>> blind
>>>>> patient, especially one who was completely helpless due to major
>>> surgery.
>>>>> At times, they refused to help her at all.  They made no
>>> adjustment for
>>>>> her
>>>>> blindness and got angry when we demanded a little consideration.
>>> The
>>>>> nurses, especially at night, did nothing but complain constantly
>>> about how
>>>>> understaffed they were and made Linda feel like a criminal every
>>> time she
>>>>> asked for something.  Her requests were normal.  Her pleas for
>>>>> consideration where her blindness was concerned were reasonable.
>>> The
>>>>> physicians thought so but the nursing staff, especially the
>>> clinical
>>>>> assistants, seemed to act as if Linda was some kind of strange
>>> creature
>>>>> from another planet.  I raised so much hell with Patient
>>> Relations that,
>>>>> after a while, they were reluctant to return my calls.  This was
>>> Linda's
>>>>> first time in a hospital.  She had never been operated on before
>>> nor was
>>>>> she in a hospital as a patient in her adult life.  She just
>>> wasn't
>>>>> prepared
>>>>> for their lack of cooperation and offensive manner.
>
>>>>> But my Linda is a fighter.  In spite of everything, she went on.
>>> But
>>>>> then, what choice did she have?  Her own knees were gone and she
>>> had to
>>>>> deal with these new artificial ones, whether she liked it or
>>> not.
>
>>>>> After 3 days in the surgery ward, Linda was moved up stairs to
>>> the
>>>>> Rehabilitation floor.  But the attitude of the nurses on that
>>> floor was,
>>>>> if
>>>>> anything, worse than the staff in the Surgical wing.  At one
>>> point, one of
>>>>> the male nurses tried to refuse me admittance into a patient
>>> dining room
>>>>> where the patients, if they wanted to, could eat with their
>>> families.  I
>>>>> warned the man that he was getting himself into hot water  but
>>> he refused
>>>>> to listen until some supervisor showed up and gave him walking
>>> orders.
>>>>> What a jerk!  After that, we had no trouble in the dining room
>>> except for
>>>>> Linda's constant, ongoing pain.
>
>>>>> As blind people, some of you will appreciate and understand what
>>> Linda
>>>>> had to put up with.  She would ask for water and one of them
>>> would bring
>>>>> it
>>>>> for her.  Then later, when some procedure or other was
>>> necessary, the
>>>>> water
>>>>> would be moved and no thought was given to how Linda could find
>>> it in a
>>>>> strange room.  The nurses just didn't or wouldn't understand
>>> that a few
>>>>> seconds of consideration might make all of the difference for
>>> Linda,
>>>>> especially when it came to her blindness coupled with the fact
>>> that she
>>>>> couldn't move around very well.  Various staff members would
>>> enter her
>>>>> room
>>>>> and without explaining what they were doing, would begin
>>> whatever
>>>>> treatment
>>>>> they had in mind.  At first, the housekeeping staff would bring
>>> her
>>>>> dinner,
>>>>> set it on a side table and never tell her it was there.  More
>>> than once,
>>>>> they moved her phone out of reach and didn't put it back.  She
>>> couldn't
>>>>> wait to get out of there.
>
>>>>> The physical therapists were completely different in every
>>> respect from
>>>>> the nursing staff.  They were considerate, patient and took the
>>> time to
>>>>> explain every exercise and process.  They told Linda exactly
>>> what she had
>>>>> to do and described the equipment before asking her to use it.
>>> Linda used
>>>>> to say that her therapy classes were an escape from the hell
>>> created by
>>>>> the
>>>>> rest of the staff.  She tried to educate them but it was an up
>>> hill battle
>>>>> with those who just wouldn't listen or didn't care.
>
>>>>> No one ever told us how much it would hurt.  I swear to you
>>> people.  I
>>>>> believe that Linda was the only blind patient this hospital ever
>>> had who
>>>>> got both knees replaced at the same time.  But Linda said it
>>> best.  If she
>>>>> had known how much it was going to hurt, she would have never
>>> had the
>>>>> surgery at all.  But in her case, the bilateral replacement was
>>> necessary.
>>>>> Both of her knees were that bad.
>
>>>>> When she came home from the hospital, her motion was still very
>>> limited.
>>>>> I took care of my baby and I enjoyed doing it.  I was so afraid
>>> that I
>>>>> would have forgotten how to fix a meal or clean up the kitchen
>>> but I did
>>>>> surprisingly well.  Linda could manage to get up and down the
>>> stairs
>>>>> although it was a slow and painful process.  We borrowed a wheel
>>> chair and
>>>>> for the longest time, that was her place to sit at our table.
>>> Our house
>>>>> is
>>>>> too small for the chair to be useful anywhere else.  She used a
>>> rolling
>>>>> walker for a while and then graduated to a cane.
>
>>>>> Well, that was more than 8 weeks ago friends.  Linda is doing
>>> quite well
>>>>> walking around now without the aid of a walker or a cane.  She
>>> is still in
>>>>> quite a bit of pain.  But gradually things are improving.  Linda
>>> had the
>>>>> opportunity, through several surveys, to describe her experience
>>> in the
>>>>> hospital.  She showed them no mercy.  Eventually, we are going
>>> to write a
>>>>> letter to the hospital's administration.  We believe that the
>>> staff is
>>>>> sadly lacking in knowledge when it comes to helping patients
>>> with physical
>>>>> impairments, especially those whom are totally blind.
>
>>>>> John Justice
>
>>>>> My job feeds my family, music feeds my soul.
>
>>>>> PERSONAL E-MAIL:  johnjustice at comcast.net
>
>
>>>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
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>
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