WWYD? – nothing about me without me?
WWYD? – nothing about me without me?
An inpatient with full mental capacity is due to have an important assessment about their future care and discharge planning.
Staff contact the patient’s son to inform him about the meeting and discuss arrangements — but the patient themselves is not told the assessment is taking place.
On the day, the patient becomes upset and says,“Why is everyone talking about me instead of to me?”
Some staff argue the son is “supportive and easier to contact.” Others feel the patient’s autonomy and dignity have been seriously undermined. What would YOU do?
I would have spoken to the patient first as if they have capacity they are able to make there own decisions , i would also ask if they wanted the son present at the meeting and also find out what they wanted to happen at discharge
I will choose a quiet, private moment and, ideally, inform the nurse rather than several people raising the issue. Ask neutral questions such as:
“Have you noticed anything different recently?”
“Are you having any changes when you pass urine?”
“Any discomfort, urgency, frequency or difficulty getting to the toilet?”
“Have you been drinking as usual?”
“Would you be happy for us to check whether anything might be causing the change?”
There may be causes other than incontinence, so don't make the odour itself the
I would treat this as a person-centred care and autonomy issue, not simply a communication mistake.
If the patient has full mental capacity, they should normally be the primary person involved in decisions and discussions about their own care. A supportive relative can be involved, but that should not replace communication with the patient.