I took care of my father for the last 2 years of his life. I was medicine power of attorney. He got sick and had to be admitted to the hospital the last 2 weeks. The last week the hospital wouldn't let me see my father. They said because my sister was power of attorney on file there. I took them my copy and they let me see him thar day. But they stopped letting me see him the last week with no explanation. I stood in the waiting room crying and begging every day. And nothing. Can I take legal action? I an messed up beyond repair because of this. What can I do?
Just trying to understand tthe situation. What reasons did the hospital give you for not letting you see your father? What do you think the real reasons were? Was your sister against you visiting your father?
When the first awful pain has softened a bit, you may find that there are facts that you’ll be able to access that will give you a different way of seeing this tragic loss.
No matter how casually the effects of the recent pandemic have been regarded by some, it can be a ferocious disease and in some areas, decisions were made quickly and abruptly.
Staffing shortages because of sick staff members made communications even more difficult than usual.
At this moment your anger and despair may need the help of a compassionate counselor, so that you’re not feeling so alone as you look for the answers to your “why” questions.
Can you start a search for someone trained in grief counseling, perhaps through a church or university or public health agency?
Hoping for you.
it’s amazing how often siblings do this to each other..my SIL was having my MIL s redone numerous times until the lawyers added that it could not be changed without 2 physicians approval..
#1 Infection Prevention and Control.
#2 Patient's Best Interests.
In the first, they would have explained (though of course that doesn't mean that an upset person would have been in any fit state to take in the explanation).
In the second, if for example there were an emergency protection order in place, they might not be able to explain for reasons of confidentiality, right down to explaining that an EPO was in place. They might not be able to say zip about it.
I can't offhand think of any other reasons.
I'm very sorry for what happened and for how upset you must be. I can't imagine what legal action, against whom, could help put it right, though. When did your father pass away?
It's unfortunately too late to do anything now, but for peace of mind, you could still contract the administrator's office, or you could hire an attorney for the sole purpose of getting his hospital records, as I'm sure any order to bar you would be in the records.
I take it that you and your sister aren't on speaking terms?
Honestly, if you're considering legal action, don't. It wouldn't be easy to find someone to represent you b/c the "damages" wouldn't be that lucrative, unless some attorney is really desperate, and then you'd end up paying for potentially no results at all, unless the attorney merely obtained records.
Trust me, it isn't worth the years of agony dealing with the court system for what may be a minimal payout at best.
You had the necessary paperwork and are immediate family. No one had any legal authority to prevent you from seeing your father.
It's not about the money. It's about making the hospital take responsibility and answer for themselves. I totally understand why you would want this. Talk to a lawyer.
In the meantime, your father has gone to his reward. He is beyond all pain and suffering.
Maybe joining a bereavement group will help you get some peace because talking to others who are suffering the same way. Continue taking your medications and going to therapy.
Your sister's having POA was neither here nor there, then; unless the hospital needed her to nominate the one or two family members who would be allowed in to be with your father at the end. How hard did they try to contact her? Not very, by the sound of it.
I still don't see how the pursuit of damages would help, but it might be that there is a protest group near you demanding an enquiry into what went on in those awful years, and an acknowledgement of mistakes made and hardships experienced. Why not see if others have been left feeling the same?
Its a little late now. Think you need to just let it go. I am so sorry.