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Post by Script on Apr 15, 2009 8:26:59 GMT -5
This case was reported today in the Globe & Mail (Toronto, Canada) www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090415.MOTHER15ART2151//TPStory/NationalThe woman convicted was in her late 40's; limited education & income. The apt. where she lived with her elderly mother sounds like it was in high fourth degree squalor. The mother died (gangrene, neglect). Most of the commentators in the paper saw this conviction as a TRIUMPH for the rights of the elderly. HOWEVER: the defense attorney commented that the daughter had limited education & income, and a distrust of social services.. Quote from paper: Defence lawyer Tracy Bock, who refused yesterday to comment on the case, had earlier argued for a conditional sentence. He told the court that his client had limited means, a Grade 6 education and a distrust of the province's social system. He said she needed help instead of a jail sentence. "With an aging population, we need to address this. Jail time isn't going to help."The judge commented that the case was made WORSE because the mother received some sort of pension benefits, and presumably the daughter wanted the money. In fact, it seems that the judge gave a HARSHER sentence than the prosecution suggested. To me this is laughable, as the pension amounts were most likely very small. To be honest, this story sounds VERY SIMILAR to the young mother arrested in Louisville (very active thread). No violence, but a FAMILY victimized by squalor, poverty, hopelessness. And NO UNDERSTANDING of the situation by the authorities. |
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Post by AnnieOkie on Apr 15, 2009 13:14:21 GMT -5
Script-Just from reading the link and what you have said here, I believe this woman deserves jail. When someone (mother or not) is sick, has flesh rotting from their body, with open sores and exposed bone.....call for help (actually, help should be called WAY before someone gets to that point). I don't care how much distrust someone has for "social services". This is basic human kindness. She may have only had a 6th grade education, but she knew how to roll her own cigarettes. My fifth grader would know to call for help if someone was ill. I think the court made the correct decision in this case and no one can convince me otherwise. There's no excuse for this type of behavior in our society.
ETA: I don't think the point of this should be that this woman was imprisoned for squalor. She was imprisoned for allowing her mother to die a painful, horrible death because she would not pursue help for her.
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Post by breakingfree on Apr 15, 2009 14:03:36 GMT -5
Script-Just from reading the link and what you have said here, I believe this woman deserves jail. When someone (mother or not) is sick, has flesh rotting from their body, with open sores and exposed bone.....call for help (actually, help should be called WAY before someone gets to that point). I don't care how much distrust someone has for "social services". This is basic human kindness. She may have only had a 6th grade education, but she knew how to roll her own cigarettes. My fifth grader would know to call for help if someone was ill. I think the court made the correct decision in this case and no one can convince me otherwise. There's no excuse for this type of behavior in our society. ETA: I don't think the point of this should be that this woman was imprisoned for squalor. She was imprisoned for allowing her mother to die a painful, horrible death because she would not pursue help for her. I agree. |
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Post by Meme on Apr 15, 2009 22:32:09 GMT -5
this is terrible and disgusting and yes- she deserves jail- in Canada the old lady would have been getting about 1200 dollars a month in old age benefits as she was over 70 - and also her medication would have been 70 to 100 percent paid- and eye care and dental care free
and the daughter had power of attorney which means she could spend the money with out her mother's signature-
I have seen - again- at the shelter but one good thing in Alberta - we could report it and they will send in a social worker who then takes over the power of attorney and works with the client- and makes sure that the food is bought and the medicine and doctor care- we helped two dear old ladies- one nearly starved to death before we saw her and could not get out of bed-one of our fellows simply kept going there and finally called the police as the son would not let him in and we suspected she need help as he could her calling --help- when he went there-
sometimes we need to cross a line of privacy when it comes to the kids and pets and elderly- both of our ladies are well and safe and alive now- but only because we insisted or continue to hassle the sons( both sons in these cases) I am going to have power of attorney through the government as I am afraid that my daughters would do this due to past behavior towards me-
we have to stop using illness as a excuse for abuse or abusive squalor- we have a right to live in our own pigpen but we not have right to subject those who cannot defend their selves-
sorry but I have seen too much abuse in my life done to others==and dear papa David only had a grade six education and was not abusive or cruel- he continue to learn and do for others-
to get a power of attorney means you need a lawyer and if she was smart enough to pass a lawyer so she knew what she was doing to her dear mama
this was the lady who gave her daughter birth and never left her sitting in a chair for 3 months
sometimes we have to stand up for the victims in life -
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Post by Lucky Laura Loving Life on Apr 15, 2009 23:30:33 GMT -5
I don't know for sure about Canada but my feeling is they are very humane to their citizens, Here in the US there would have to be some
way to avoid this horrible thing from happening!!
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Post by Meme on Apr 15, 2009 23:36:28 GMT -5
we try to keep it from happening and I sure that sadly it happens in both countries but it has been such a hidden form of abuse and often the elderly will not report it and it is difficult unless some one else can see it- it is often like spousal abuse- so much fear and of course hidden- I have had my daughters both verbally abuse me and yet- in front of others they are very nice- the way papa hubby caught them was he started putting them on speaker phone etc as he could see it was breaking my heart- Miss Ashley has seen it happen- but very few others- just one time at doctors office where a nurse over heard and questioned me about it and told me that if I need help ever to call there as she would be able to get the doctor to help me- now I just stay away most of the tiime and they do not come unless need something- now that I have little money they seldom come- sad sigh-
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Post by AnnieOkie on Apr 16, 2009 8:23:34 GMT -5
Meme wrote: "we have a right to live in our own pigpen but we not have right to subject those who cannot defend their selves"
This is a very profound statement and I agree with it totally. Thanks Meme.
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