Safeguarding

In the past safeguarding legislation in Ireland has focused on protecting children and vulnerable persons such as older persons and those with disabilities. Dignity4Patients firm belief is that all adults accessing healthcare are vulnerable and should be included in any safeguarding legislation.

Why do we believe all patients are vulnerable?
Vulnerability can arise as a result of a mismatch between the characteristics of patients needs and knowledge and the physicians reaction to them.

A Patient when seeking healthcare services is often vulnerable because:-
They maybe Stressed and Anxious when accessing healthcare about their medical need
They maybe experiencing physical Pain or a loss of Control due to Emotional distress
They may have reduced Cognitive ability due to the above feelings and/or medication
They maybe Unsure of the healthcare environment and an unknown medical team
They are Uncertain of the treatment offered or the alternatives to be decided upon
They maybe Confused due to limited communication between them and the medic
They may have limited medical Knowledge or are unfamiliar with medical Terminology
They are vulnerable to the Power dynamics of the doctor – patient relationship

The experience of vulnerability can affect a patients physiological, psychological and social functioning. For these reasons, Dignity4Patients believes safeguarding legislation should apply to all patients regardless of their age or their status as children, young persons, adults or older persons or those with disabilities.