Death by indifference
This report will set out why we believe there is institutional discrimination within the NHS, and why people with a learning disability get worse healthcare than non-disabled people. We present the stories of six people who we believe have died unnecessarily. We do so because healthcare professionals need to realise the serious – even fatal – consequences of their lack of understanding. We do so to point out that these professionals must work to ensure that such tragedies can never happen again.
This report follows on from Mencap’s Treat me right! report and campaign in 2004, which exposed the unequal healthcare that people with a learning disability often receive from healthcare professionals. The report made clear that much work needs to be done within the NHS to ensure that people with a learning disability are treated decently and equally.
Since the launch of our Treat me right! campaign, many cases of appalling treatment of people with a learning disability in hospitals around the country have come to light. The six cases presented in this report share common factors. In our view, they raise serious concerns about the way people with a learning disability are treated within our healthcare system.
This report follows on from Mencap’s Treat me right! report and campaign in 2004, which exposed the unequal healthcare that people with a learning disability often receive from healthcare professionals. The report made clear that much work needs to be done within the NHS to ensure that people with a learning disability are treated decently and equally.
Since the launch of our Treat me right! campaign, many cases of appalling treatment of people with a learning disability in hospitals around the country have come to light. The six cases presented in this report share common factors. In our view, they raise serious concerns about the way people with a learning disability are treated within our healthcare system.