Inverness parents of child with autism face ‘absolutely horrific’ ordeal; plus councillor on right to die fears
Coercion worries are real in end of life debate
Your columnist Colin Campbell asks if anyone has ever heard an elderly person feel guilty for taking up a hospital bed in his column on assisted dying.
I can confirm I've personally experienced that multiple times from patients, who had very very good reasons for needing to be in hospital such as a stroke or heart attack the day before.
As someone with an interest in the debate, I'm sure Mr Campbell will want to know the British Geriatrics Society shares the concerns of MPs around possible coercion at the end of life that he so belittles.
Perhaps the fact the professional body representing those who look after the UK's frailest and most vulnerable patients will cause him to reflect on his position,
David Gregg
Lib Dem councillor for Inverness Millburn and specialist registrar in geriatrics
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Fury over refusal to reveal details of ‘incident’
Parents of a non-verbal child with autism have hit out after being denied any details of an “incident” at an Inverness school involving her and over which a member of staff has been suspended and is currently under investigation. Lauren and Sean Selkirk are calling for answers after Highland Council education officers shut down requests for details of the incident which they were only informed of a week after it is reported to have happened.
“Do not stop until you have answers. This is absolutely shocking! Hope you get the answers soon.” - Emma-Jayne Ross
“Poor wee soul. I had selective mutism as a child, which is a severe social anxiety disorder and was only able to communicate with my parents. There wasn’t much known about these disorders back then and I went through some trauma from ignorant care takers in nursery, punished and having my lunch snack removed and being humiliated, as I was unable to say thank you. Attention and embarrassment was the exact situation I was avoiding. I hope she can recover from this and they get answers and it makes me angry. I don’t know how some people can be so cruel.” - Eilidh Nic
“This is an absolute disgrace. I completely empathise with the parents as my own son was involved in an 'incident' years ago and was non verbal at the time. It comes down to discrimination as other children would be able to come home and tell their parents exactly who/what/how the incident happened! Highland Council will always close ranks and try to get their story straight to cover up anything they may well be liable for answering to.” - Isobel Geegan
“Any incident involving my daughter at her nursery, there was an incident sheet filled out and they also told me all about it, one copy for me and one they kept which I signed. Even for wee bumps or things that didn't really upset her. Saying that though, unfortunately it's not the same everywhere and this doesn't surprise me in the least.” - Re Becca
“How can these parents support their daughter fully and properly prepare for and manage any potential repercussions from the incident when at home without knowing all the details?? Absolutely disgusting that they are being kept in the dark!!” - Katie Leanne
“This is totally unacceptable for the parents to be kept in the dark. I’m afraid a primary school headteacher has an unbelievable amount of power that it is scary, if it’s the same as England. Even the police had their hands tied in my experience of a primary school teacher in England. I hope the parents can find out the truth, it must be scary not knowing what has happened to their child.” - Lo Macleod
“If it was me I would involve the police & a solicitor. You have every right to know what happened for your child's sake.” - Shani MacDonald
“Shani MacDonald, and even more a right to know considering their child is non verbal and can't tell them herself, shocking isn't it.” - Amanda-Jane Dawson
“And so what if this ‘incident’ should require specialist counselling from either parents or professional to help child process/recover from? I take it the parents now require to have psychic abilities.” - Anita Crant
“There’s no reason they can’t have the information, albeit that names might have to be redacted. Straight to the information commissioner, folks. You have a right to know, legally. They will faff about. They will stall. They will lie. They will omit. But they can be brought to heel.” - Chas Mac Donald
“How they can justify this. If it’s deemed as significant enough to suspend someone then they should be told. Even if an incident happens in school with a child you are told the full story just without names being provided. If this is nothing to be worried about they should have told the parents and they wouldn’t have had to go to all these lengths to be heard and now it may have been made into a bigger story when it’s really straight forward. So they may have made this a bigger problem.” - Carlie Davidson
“Bad enough to involve social work and the police albeit no charges brought but parents know absolutely nothing and all done before telling the parent sounds very suspicious.” - Karen Mack
“This is absolutely horrific. Parents of a non-verbal autistic child learn that an incident happened in school involving her, a member of staff has been suspended and The Highland Council refuse to tell them what actually happened. This is the stuff of nightmares. What is going on in the council, and specifically the education department? It seems routinely steeped in ineptitude, lack of emotion and humanity. Treat these parents right, THC! You are making utter fools of yourselves. And you’re making people’s lives a misery.” - Brian Devlin
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