Family outraged as grandmother, 88, dies after being denied food and water for 28 DAYS in hospice care
NORTH WALES, UNITED KINGDOM: An old woman died "slowly" from "dehydration and starvation" 28 days after her carers stopped giving her food or water, according to the grieving son of the victim.
Four weeks ago, Sarene Taylor, 88, was sent to a hospital in North Wales following a stroke. According to Rob Taylor, the doctors told them there was nothing else they could do and began end-of-life care, withholding fluids and food. The attitude to end-of-life care has to change, according to Taylor, a decorated and well-respected former rural police officer from North Wales. He called it "inhumane" and "heartbreaking" for the family.
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'To deny a human being food and water is disgraceful'
As per The Daily Mail, he also discussed telling North Wales Police and the Welsh Older People's Commissioner about the events that led to his mother's death. Taylor said. "I understand end of life care, and the carers and district nurses do a fantastic job but to deny a human being food and water is disgraceful and we as a society need to ensure that this doesn't happen again." He added, "The family thank everyone for their kind messages and loving support during these past weeks."
Just a few days before his mother died, Taylor explained the terrible predicament the family was in an emotional video. "My mum 88-years of age had a fantastic life, but sadly four weeks ago today, she was admitted to a hospital in North Wales, with what we found out to be a stroke," he said. "I obviously went up to be with her and spend time with her - on the Monday which is three weeks gone - and this Monday the doctor told me that there was nothing more they could do for her sadly and all fluids and food were withdrawn and she was put on end of life care."
'It's absolutely heartbreaking for us'
"This is not a story about illegality or legality, it's about ethics. My mum is still alive - 24 to 25 days in without any food, any water, no IV drip, nothing - she's still alive - and it's inhumane and absolutely harrowing to the family and inhumane. This is how you would treat people back in the 11th and 12th Century - not 2023. It's absolutely harrowing. There is nothing we can do, absolutely nothing we can do - and they have been wonderful, it's just that it's incredible that she's probably suffering and it's heartbreaking, it's absolutely heartbreaking for us."
Andrea Hughes, director of nursing for the East Integrated Health Community of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said, "We offer our sincere condolences to Mrs Taylor's family for their very sad loss. While we cannot comment on individual cases in any detail, we were in daily contact with Mr Taylor about his mother's care and we are investigating concerns that he has raised."