Recently a Louisiana resident contacted a DRLA Community Living Ombudsman on behalf of a man with a developmental disability who has challenges with verbal communication.
A hospital was considering giving this man a gastronomy tube to help him eat. If he received a gastronomy tube, he would not be allowed to stay in the group home he had lived in for almost 20 years. The DRLA Ombudsman met with hospital staff to tell them about his rights regarding medical consent. During this meeting, the Ombudsman learned that the hospital had not done a swallow study to make sure that he needed a gastronomy tube.
Afterwards, she met with a number of hospital staff along with the group home administrator to advocate for a swallow study, explaining the major life changes the hospital resident would experience if he had a gastronomy tube.
Eventually, the hospital performed the swallow study and found that the man did not need a gastronomy tube–and stopped their plans for the procedure.
Thanks to a successful collaboration and working relationship between the DRLA Ombudsmen and the group home providers, along with others in the community, all parties were educated on the rights of the individual. As a result, they were able to help to uphold his rights and the appropriate medical care was given.
