An 88-year-old woman was allegedly "left to die" by her carers after she went without food or water for over 25 days, according to her family.
Rob Taylor, a former North Wales rural police officer, explained that his mother, Sarene Thomas, was admitted to an unnamed hospital and they informed him that they were beginning end-of-life care for the 88-year-old following a stroke.
Taylor has expressed his feelings on social media about what he described as the "inhumane" treatment of his mother after she was taken from the hospital and placed in a care home and "left to die".
The former police officer stated that he hasn't shared the story to question the legality of how the 88-year-old was treated but to express his thoughts on the "ethics" of it.
In a video posted to Twitter on March 16, Taylor began by explaining why his mother was in the hospital and that she had a "fantastic life".
"I obviously went up to be with her and spend time with her – on the Monday, which is three weeks gone – and this Monday the doctor told me that there was nothing more they could do for her sadly and all fluids and food were withdrawn and she was put on end-of-life care," Taylor explained.
He had spent a lot of time with her, he said, but he had to attend to something else so left her side and was then informed that he had caught Covid and therefore couldn't return to the hospital for some time.
The former police officer was then informed that he had to take his mother from the hospital and place her in a care home, which he obliged.
Taylor went on to reveal that his mother was "left to die" in an "inhumane" way. He said: "This is not a story about illegality or legality, it’s about ethics. My mom is still alive. 24 to 25 days in without any food, any water, no IV drip, nothing – she’s still alive – and it’s inhumane and absolutely harrowing to the family."
Taylor credited the district nurse that visited his mother once a day and defended their work and explained that his comments are not to attack them or the care home.
"But it’s the ethics that she is just left to die, slowly from dehydration and malnutrition in front of our very eyes," he went on. "This is how you would treat people back in the 11th and 12th century – not 2023. It’s absolutely harrowing."
"There is nothing we can do, absolutely nothing we can do – and they have been wonderful, it’s just that it’s incredible that she’s probably suffering and it’s heartbreaking, it’s absolutely heartbreaking for us."
Taylor posted a follow-up video on March 20 where he revealed that his mother had sadly passed away. He thanked well-wishers for their support while adding that although he hoped that the day would never come, he is comforted knowing that his mother is at peace after her ordeal.
Andrea Hughes, Director of Nursing for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s East Integrated Health Community, said via Metro: "We offer our sincere condolences to Mrs. Taylor’s family for their very sad loss.
"While we cannot comment on individual cases in any detail, we were in daily contact with Mr. Taylor about his mother’s care and we are investigating concerns that he has raised."
Our thoughts are with Sarene Thomas' loved ones at this time.
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