My Quora Answer to:
As a paramedic, have you ever heard of the abuse of a patient?
I will answer this as a physician, not a paramedic, but the truths hold.
I was working in the ER of a rural Wisconsin hospital when an elderly woman was brought in by ambulance with a severe case of urinary retention. On inserting the catheter, I and my nurses noted a lot of bruises on her inner thighs. Her son, and only caretaker, was hovering about and so we put 2 and 2 together: this demon was sexually abusing his own mother. Whether I had the obligation to or not, I notified the local police department and while mom was admitted to the hospital, her son was escorted off to jail.
COMMENTS
Besides child abuse being the worst act of evil is senior abuse. Both vulnerable and fragile.
Pretty sad. Let's not forget abuse of the disabled, those with learning disabilities, and the mentally ill. Essentially everyone who lacks the power and ability to defend themselves and speak up for help (me).
Yes…and the disabled.
Because of you, that lady does not have to live with the abuse anymore. Simply amazing to notice and did something about it. Often times people aren’t too sure and they dismiss their suspicions. Bravo
I agree though I often wonder where an adult child learned such behavior. Not necessarily blaming the parent but I lived near a man who was rumored to be beaten by his father frequently when he was young. Once his father was old and the son his caretaker the table turned…
THERE SHOULD BE NO QUESTION AS TO YOU HAVING THE OBLIGATION TO NOTIFY THE AUTHORITIES, COMMON DECENCY IS YOUR OBLIGATION
I agree. I didn't even have to think about it. My point was that at the time, Wisconsin didn't have a mandatory reporting law concerning the abuse of the elderly. Just being a decent person is enough (me).