A British Columbia coroner's inquest heard from Astrid Dahl, Florence Girard's caregiver, who admitted to being deterred from seeking medical help by policies respecting Girard's rights. Dahl testified that Girard's strong aversion to hospitals and doctors, coupled with organizational guidelines, prevented her from getting necessary care, ultimately leading to her death from starvation in 2018.
Florence Girard ’s caregiver has told a British Columbia coroner’s inquest she was deterred from getting help before Girard starved to death by policies about respecting the rights of people living under their home-sharing arrangement.
But she says Girard would go into “meltdown” every time she was supposed to go to the doctor or receive medical care, and this influenced Dahl’s decision to keep Girard at home instead of taking her to hospital as her condition worsened. “I’ve had time to think these things and what could I have done differently for a long time, and there’s many things I could have done differently,” she said. “And that would be one of them.”
“Because of her hatred of hospitals and doctors, I just thought if I could take care of her, she would bounce back,” Dahl testified on Tuesday.Dahl said she decided as Girard’s condition worsened that it was better to keep her at home instead of letting her die alone in hospice, because of the distress medical settings caused Girard.
“She was asked if she wanted to come and live with me, and she said yes,” Dahl testified. “So she’d known my family for the whole time I’d work there, and she’d known my son. He’d grown up with her. So we were all tight-knit, if you will.”
Florence Girard Down Syndrome Neglect Caregiver Systemic Issues Disability Rights Coroner's Inquest
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Caregiver Testifies in Inquest of Woman with Down Syndrome Who Starved to DeathAstrid Dahl, the caregiver of Florence Girard, testified before a British Columbia coroner's inquest, revealing that she was deterred from seeking medical help for Girard before her death. Dahl cited policies protecting Girard's rights and admitted to being in denial about Girard's declining health.
Read more »
Woman's Fear of Hospitals Cited in Death of Florence Girard From StarvationA coroner's inquest into the death of Florence Girard, who starved to death in 2018, heard testimony from Astrid Dahl, the woman responsible for her care. Dahl said Girard's strong aversion to hospitals and doctors prevented her from seeking medical help, despite growing concerns about her health.
Read more »
Disabled B.C. woman who starved to death in care system was emaciated in poor living conditions, inquest hearsFlorence Girard’s sister tells an inquest jury in Burnaby that Florence was so small when she died that she ‘looked like a child’ in her casket
Read more »
Coroner's Inquest into Death of Woman with Down Syndrome Reveals Troubling TestimonyA coroner's inquest into the death of Florence Girard, a woman with Down syndrome who starved to death while in a living arrangement, heard disturbing testimony about her treatment. Girard's emaciated remains were found in 2018, weighing just 50.6 pounds. The inquest aims to identify systemic failings in the system. Girard's sister testified about her sister's declining health and expressed fear that similar deaths might occur if changes are not made.
Read more »
Sister Testifies About 'Awful' Last Years of Sister With Developmental DisabilitiesSharon Bursey testified at a British Columbia coroner's inquest into the death of her sister, Florence Girard, a 54-year-old woman with developmental disabilities who died weighing only 50 pounds in 2018. Bursey expressed frustration with the lack of support from Community Living BC and detailed Girard's isolated living conditions in the care of Astrid Dahl, who was later convicted of failing to provide the necessities of life.
Read more »
Carer says rules deterred her from getting help for B.C. woman who starved to deathBURNABY, B.C. — Florence Girard's caregiver has told a British Columbia coroner's inquest she was deterred from getting help before Girard starved to death by policies about respecting the rights of people living under their home-sharing arrangement.
Read more »