Ariane
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Ariane, in her early 70s, has limited mobility because of damage to her spine, hips, legs and feet. She has a very low tolerance for medication, and is likely to react negatively to any she takes.
Several years ago Ariane had knee surgery in the regional hospital near her home. Afterwards, she wasn’t able to perform the tests she needed to complete before she could be discharged.
‘Because of my pre-existing illnesses, physically, I wasn't able to do what they wanted me to do. I tried to explain. They wouldn't listen to me.’
The physiotherapist attempted several times to push Ariane through the tests, which was ‘really painful’.
When Ariane couldn’t pass the tests, she asked the physio for additional rehab support. ‘No, we don't have time for that,’ she was told.
Then, without her knowledge or consent, nurses administered opiates to her. She had told the medical team about her sensitivity to such drugs, but they ignored her. The drugs caused hallucinations and other side-effects.
‘I kept getting sicker and sicker and they're giving me these anti-nausea tablets which are not working … Apart from that, they upped the medication without me knowing. Until they overdosed me.’
Shortly afterwards, Ariane was transferred to another hospital for post-surgery recovery. But she was sent with incorrect medical records that didn’t note her low tolerance to medications. At the second hospital she was again given drugs that made her sick. As she recovered, nurses in the hospital treated her abusively.
Ariane was still unwell when she left the hospital.
‘My doctor rang the hospital and he said “Why was she allowed out?” And they said, “She discharged herself.” I hadn't and I can prove it.’
Ariane made a formal complaint, but she says it was not upheld because the hospitals falsified her medical records and lied to conceal their negligence. She has tried to pursue the matter further, but without success.
Ariane believes her experiences in the two hospitals has left her with post-traumatic stress disorder.
‘I still wake up and I'm scared … in case I'm still there with the nurses there. So I know it's still with me,’ she told the Royal Commission. ‘It's very hard when you have to trust in a system and they, yeah, you're at their mercy.’
She is critical of a complaints process that leaves people with disability ‘absolutely dead ended’.
‘We have nowhere to turn at all,’ she said.
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.