By K. Jones
On August 29, 2011, Phil Henderson, a high functioning 56-year old developmentally disabled Kansan was taken by ambulance to a Kansas hospital due to chest congestion. On the same day he was admitted to the hospital. In the next couple of days he had a consult with the chief orthopedic surgeon because the back of his right leg had a three inch wide incision from mid thigh to the heel, removing all the skin in between. His family was shocked as he had no previous leg injuries and had a habit of walking three to four miles a day. The hospital didn’t have answers as to why the leg was in this condition. The EMTs had noted in their records the leg was fine when they took him to the hospital.
The chief orthopedic surgeon recommended skin grafts. One month later he advised the family that the leg had healed sufficiently enough to move Phil to the burn unit. That hospital’s burn unit did not accept him, so he recommended transferring him to a larger hospital to be treated in their outstanding burn unit.
Once transferred the burn unit at the second hospital did not accept him. The family had received second opinions; one an out of state specialist who said that Phil’s leg could easily be reconstructed, and asked for him to be transferred there. The hospital was informed of the family’s objection to the amputation, but they amputated immediately against the family’s wishes. Shortly after the amputation Phil Henderson died.
It is a year later and the family is still seeking answers. The family and TheArc (The National Association of Retarded Citizens) is challenging Congress to pass new laws as current laws were not adequate to protect Phil Henderson.
The family desires that this tragedy never happen to other developmentally disabled citizens and their families. Some guidelines for your health and those of your loved ones are:
1. Do not go to the hospital alone; if possible, take a friend or relative. if possible.
2. Take care of your health by being proactive
3. Get 30 minutes of daily exercise.
4. If things aren’t going well do not hesitate to change medical providers.
5. Remember prayer complements medical care.
