Tracks of tears on a dust laden face
Finding a smile in a blank solomn place
Fears of pain still leaving it’s mark
On an old broken frame alone in the dark
From hearts having passed leaving scars of a sin
Searching for ground and new ways to begin
Words by ‘Rayner’
If you are trying to decide whether or not to submit your medical experience, please remember who you would be doing it for. It may be someone’s sister, father, mother, son, best friend, or daughter.
Pain does not discriminate. It can affect anyone at any time of their life. Your courage will help change the systems ‘one size fit’s all’ approach that is not alleviating patients suffering, but in so many situations compounding their pain and making their quality of life much worse.
Pain also has a huge impact on those around them. The anxiety, distress and unpredictability of life for all involved, negatively impacts mental health and the family as a whole.
Maybe you are someone who lives with severe pain on a daily basis, maybe you work in the health system and have seen the abuse occur, or are a doctor that is continually threatened with legal action should you try and advocate for your patient because they may genuinely need medication to assist them in controlling their pain.
We have to stop the blanket approach when dealing with pain patients. Patient’s are not allowed an individualised approach to assist in managing each persons pain. The Government has a duty of care to it’s citizens including those that live with pain and it is failing miserably. What is happening to those in pain is an unethical experiment, and we are seeing the repercussions of the neglect and abuse in deteriorating mental health and in the exacerbation of pain resulting in many cases of patients planning their end of life because they have no control anymore.
This is wrong. This must stop. Together we can force the change that is needed.
Please remember, all stories received are totally and unequivocally anonymous should you choose.
