BMJ  2008;336:581 (15 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.39514.496481.DB

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People with learning difficulties face abuse in health settings

Paul Stephenson

1 London

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Health trusts and local authorities in the United Kingdom have a duty to promote respect for human rights to help stop the neglect and abuse of adults with learning disabilities, a parliamentary committee report says.

The report, on the rights of adults with learning disabilities by the Joint Committee on Human Rights, found that public bodies are not fully committed to implementing government policy on rights, independence, choice, and inclusion. It also says that limited resources are undermining attempts to implement the policy.

The committee heard evidence that people with learning disabilities in health and residential settings face abusive and degrading treatment, neglect or carelessness, a lack of privacy, and a lack of dignity. It also heard evidence of malnutrition and dehydration; inappropriate use of restraint or drugs; problems with communication, particularly for patients with complex or profound learning disabilities; and negative, patronising, and infantilising attitudes towards people with learning . . . [Full text of this article]


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