Madeleine and Lawrence
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
Lawrence is the parent and guardian of Madeleine, who has ‘severe’ intellectual disability. Lawrence wrote to the Royal Commission about his concern regarding the quality of medical care available to her and others with disability.
He described an incident that occurred about four years ago. Madeleine was admitted to a hospital in a lot of pain and was diagnosed with a severe urinary tract infection.
Throughout the night Madeleine received several injections to her stomach. Each time she was held down by three security guards.
Lawrence pleaded with the doctors to sedate her instead of forcibly holding her down, but they said they ‘could only do what was written up for her’.
As a result of the physical force, Madeleine ended up with ‘bruising down both arms and legs, a black eye and small cut under her eye’.
The next morning, Lawrence removed Madeleine from the hospital and took her to her GP, who then referred her to a different hospital. Here she ‘received the treatment she should have received in the first instance’.
When Lawrence met with management of the first hospital, they acknowledged that what happened to Madeleine was ‘terrible’ but excused it on the grounds that it was a training hospital.
Lawrence said the second hospital was also a training hospital, but the treatment Madeleine received there was ‘exceptional’.
He sought options for legal recourse for Madeleine, but solicitors told him ‘that a judge would not consider it as [his] daughter could not give evidence’.
Lawrence said that it took him around nine months to get Madeleine’s confidence back and to trust him, ‘let alone anyone else’.
‘Ever since then she has trust issues and aggressive behaviour, even with support workers who have worked with her and known her for many years.’
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.