© Causes 2012. Anyone can change the world.
Working together to end the systemic discrimination and mistreatment of people labeled with disabilites including psychiatric diagnoses in emergency departments nationwide.
Working together to end the systemic discrimination and mistreatment of people labeled with disabilites including psychiatric diagnoses in emergency departments nationwide.
We are leading the movement to end discrimination in Emergency departments based on stigma and ignorance against people labeled with mental illnesses and differing abilities.
We are people with disabilities, including diagnoses of mental illnesses, who are subjected to terrible mistreatment in ERs, including restraint, seclusion, lack of accessibility, ignorance, medical neglect, verbal attacks, physical abuse and lack of food, water and medication. We will not allow this to continue.
Our access to emergency services is at stake! When we come in for serious medical problems are often told "It's all just in your head". People in crisis are often subjected to illegal restraint and seclusion. The equipment in the ER is not accessible to people who use wheelchairs.
There is only ignorance, arrogance by doctors/nurses/guards and lack, abuse, and cruelty!
Once someone experiences abuse in an ER, they are less likely to go for help in any type of emergency. Trust in doctors and in the system is shattered. We have no recourse when abuse happens, no regulations and oversight to protect us when we are at our most vulnerable.
To accomplish our goal of changing how the emergency department system treats us, we will have to use the power of our lived experiences and our voices. Thank you!
1. ERs must be safe places where anyone can go for help, medical or mental health.
2. Help by inviting other people and showing them that abuse happens often and that we need not tolerate any abuse from those who are supposed to help us
3. Go to www.M-POWER.org Many people are often ashamed of incidents in ERs. It is critical to educate everyone about their rights, the and win new ones
4. Mistreatment takes many forms - verbal abuse to medical neglect, strip searches and seculsion, using restraints to punish. People are dying from abuse
5. Join the ER Bill of Rights campaign and invite all your friends in saying "NO!" to abuse and ignorance of the needs of people with disabilities.