A pensioner suffered an "inhumane" death after 28 days without food and water, her devastated son has claimed. Sarene Taylor suffered a stroke and died four weeks after she had food and fluids withdrawn at a hospital in North Wales, as she was sent back to a care home to die.
The 88-year-old died on Monday, March 20, and son Rob Taylor now plans to report the circumstances that led to his mother's death to North Wales Police and the Older People's Commissioner for Wales.
Rob, a former rural police officer, said the end-of-life care provided to his mother was "heartbreaking" for the family to watch, North Wales Live reports
He 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. The family thank everyone for their kind messages and loving support during these past weeks."
Rob said his mum was in an unnamed North Wales hospital about a month ago and had suffered a stroke. He claims doctors began end-of-life care, withdrawing fluids and food, after telling him there was nothing more they could do. In an emotional video released just days before his mother died, Rob described the situation his family had been placed in as "harrowing".
"I spent quite a lot of time with her - and then on leaving and waiting for the phone call, because I had to go somewhere else unfortunately, I then discovered I had caught Covid, so I couldn't immediately go back - on the Wednesday, just gone three weeks ago - I was told we had to take her from the hospital," he said.
"So [we] arranged for her to be taken back to the care home. 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.
"That such a precious lady has been allowed to lie on a bed in a care home - in fairness being seen once a day by a district nurse and they do an outstanding job, it's nothing against them or the care home - but it's the ethics that she is just left to die, slowly from dehydration and malnutrition in front of our very eyes."
Andrea Hughes, Director of Nursing for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board's East Integrated Health Community, 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."
Older People's Commissioner for Wales, Heléna Herklots CBE, said: "I would like to offer my condolences to Mr. Taylor and his family following the loss of his mother. Mr. Taylor has contacted me and I am in the process of seeking further details from him about his mother's experiences. As such, I am unable to comment further at this stage."
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