Barred from hospital for being autistic

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My understanding so far is that I have two years to sue them civily, and one year to make a human rights complaint. Both are probably best left to conferm that my baby is born healthy and without consequance from this incedent.

I will also see my psychiatrist and talk to him about what happened, when we initially talked he had suggested that the AS Dx would give me a way to explain my difficulties particularily with health care people in a way that would be better understood and respected - it seems to have had the opposit affect.

I will also talk to my GP - he has been out of town and doesn't know what happened. he is one of the few doctors I have ever met that really listens to his patients and does not seem to dismiss anything (he may come up with a different answer than I expected but I am never dismissed by him).

ACA has suggested some kind of educational seminar where I come along and talk to the staff - perhaps this is where the media should come in?

Also, I was refused admitance - she said she would not admit me based on my communication needs - security said they would admit me but not if I required help - then told me I was not welcome at that hospital anymore . . . so as far as I can tell I am still being discriminated against because I am not welcome at that hospital based on my communication needs (since they said they were willing to admit me after my tantrum, the reason I am not welcome could not be because of my behaviour or response . . . the only reason they continued to refuse me admittance and then said I was not welcome was because I insisted I needed help) - I smell human rights issues.

Yeah, some hospitals are crap.


This is one of many incidents which lead to the eventual closure of this hospital.

"Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital officials met with Los Angeles County supervisors last week to discuss how a female patient complaining of severe abdominal pain died last week without ever receiving treatment, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Edith Isabel Rodriguez allegedly went to King-Harbor Hospital earlier in the day with stomach pains and received pain medication before being released. She returned after with the pain intensified but was told to wait in the lobby.

While waiting, hospital security discovered Rodriguez had an outstanding arrest warrant. She became unresponsive when security took her into custody and she died the next day.

County officials say the hospital took too long to inform them of the incident and blamed a breakdown in hospital communication for Rodriguez' death, according to the Times. Autopsy results are pending."

Someone, somewhere, should be able to help you.

Try a free legal aid society in your area. They might not be able to take the case as far as suing someone, but they might take the matter up, make some forceful inquiries with the proper authorities and get someone to take serious corrective action and issue you an apology for how you were treated.

You would at least know corrective actions will be taken.

I have spoken with leagal aid - they never do medical malpractice or personal injury

I will call them back to see if they deal with hate crimes (I had not framed it that way before)

I spoke again with legal aid they said it was not the type of case they do

The gave me the number of the ombudsman for alberta and recommended I file a complaint with patient concerns.

This may be all I can do as I cannot afford to hire a lawyer.

I do think that perhaps our communities need to become more activist orientated - we have plenty of support services but little advocacy.

I will meet with ACA on tueday with these suggestions - they are working on an "action plan" as they call it.

I will have to file my complaint with patient concerns then we may want to write to the ombudsman or ACA may want to accumulate our letters and send them with a supporting statment as one political gesture.

I will see what they have to say and will let you guys know what we decide to do.

Thankyou for all the suggestions and support. I will report in a few days.

Normally I don't think of myself as "vulnerable", but what happened made me realise how dangerous ignorance can be.

I have also started reading about the number of autistics that die due to direct institutional action - I was surprised to find many stories of children who die in schools and group homes while subject to restraint procedures (even here in Canada) , and also found out about countries that routinly execute "ret*d" people

I have posted a thread in the admin section requesting a memorial thread or online "cemetary" where we could list the names of autistic people who have died from injustice - suicide, murdered by bullies, executed by government, died during "interventions" and from medical negligence - I think there are too many and they should be remembered. Not a place for support discussion but rather a compilation of names and how they died - like a cemetary.

I think it would be very special for the families and would be a powerfull tool for change.