Scottish COVID inquiry|Closing Statements:Health and Social Care Impact Hearings|28 June 2024 (morning session)
Harrowing testimony by Shelagh McCall KC on human rights abuses, the misuse of DNACPR and the harms from lockdown and isolation policies on care home residents.
Introduction
Representing members of the Bereaved Relatives Group (Skye) ("BRG") Shelagh McCall KC outlines the ‘devastating’ harms inflicted by lockdown policies particularly on those with Dementia including neglect. What is also highly significant is the MULTIPLE interferences in human right law including the misuse of DNACPR notices.
Highlights video below followed by the full testimony at the end.
‘The impact of the response (lockdown) to the pandemic was PROFOUND.’
‘Some witnesses speak of the apparent misuse of DNACPR notices, this directly engages article 2 of the European convention and is a matter of GRAVE CONCERN.’
‘Witnesses decscribed the NEGLECT of residents and their environment…the lack of basic hygiene, food safety and being injured as a result of being unattended..
..The extent of the deterioration may have breached the article 3 rights of residents.’
'The approach to LOCKDOWN was nothing short of a CALLOUS DISREGARD of people’s right to family life.'
‘The impact (of lockdown) on residents mental health and physical well-being was DEVASTATING.’
NB: Dementia was the main pre-existing medical condition in all deaths involving COVID-19 in Scotland in 2020. So those adversely impacted most by the government policies, died of the virus the most.
Further points to note in statement:
‘Witnesses have spoken to suspicions surrounding whether residents were receiving prescribed medication; and the care home staffs understanding of what medications were to be provided, and when.’
Article 14 interference is also mentioned in relation to DNACPR notices.
‘Ms Grant described discussions with care home staff, where she explicitly stated that she did not want a DNACPR order put in place. When Ms Grant subsequently, and only through the processes of this Inquiry, discovered that a DNACPR was in place.’
In statement conclusions it reads:
‘There was a failure to recognise the important role which relatives, in many cases, play in the provision of care. The removal of their involvement had foreseeable consequences, to both the residents and their relatives.’
‘Unnecessary suffering was caused.’
Media
I could find no mainstream nor any alternative media articles of this powerful testimony.
Please help share this information.
Full testimony:
End
Links:
Full closing statement- https://www.covid19inquiry.scot/sites/default/files/ev-documents/sci-clsstn-000005.pdf
https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2022/02/excess-deaths-causes-dementia-setting-scotland-2020-2021/documents/excess-deaths-causes-involving-dementia-underlying-cause-scotland-2020-2021/excess-deaths-causes-involving-dementia-underlying-cause-scotland-2020-2021/govscot%3Adocument/excess-deaths-causes-involving-dementia-underlying-cause-scotland-2020-2021.pdf
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/human-rights/human-rights-act
It seems like we need to find the source of the directives given to care homes and hospitals. They were all following orders from above. Pre-prepared protocols that violated our rights under the guise of a health emergency. Protocols that would knowingly harm and kill citizens. There must be documentation of the health department mandates. It was so coordinated worldwide as it's clear the same thing happened in every country. I have not looked, but there must be a lot of lawsuits against care homes and hospitals. They intentionally did this in a way that it would be difficult to hold anyone accountable. "Just following orders."
DONT EVER LET ANYONE STOR YOU FROM CHECKING ON YOUR LOVED ONES IN CARE HOMES EVER. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHECK ON THEM. THE GOV IS THROWING PARTIES . ENJOYING THEMSELVES BUT TELLING OTHERS TO LOCK DOWN. ALL GOVERMENTS ESTABLIAHMENTS THAT DID THIS YET THEMSELVES HAD A BALL MUST BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. THIS IS WICKED. WHY ARE THEY STILL FREE ???? AND OUR LOVED ONES DEAD AFTER SUFFERING HORRORS.