Zoom
Health: Emma's story
Emma was just 26 when she died. She had a severe learning disability, which meant she sometimes had difficulty communicating how she felt.
Emma was admitted to hospital for tests - she was upset and in pain. The hospital found her behaviour difficult to manage and sent her home without any help to control her pain.
When Emma and her mum Jane went back to the hospital for the results they were told Emma had cancer.
Jane was told that Emma had a 50% chance of survival with treatment, but the hospital staff were worried it would be difficult to treat her because of her learning disability.
Emma's doctors decided not to act, saying that she would not co-operate with treatment.
"Emma was a fun loving young woman who loved her life and all of the people in it," says Jane. "She was denied her chance of life by doctors who discriminated against her. One doctor actually said: ‘if she was a normal young woman we would not hesitate to treat her'."
Jane eventually agreed that palliative care would be appropriate. Emma was admitted to a hospice where she died a month later.
When I agreed that Emma should only receive palliative care treatment, I did so because I was then told that Emma only had a 10% chance of survival and that it would be cruel to treat her. I now know that this was not true, that I was misled into agreeing with the decision that cost my daughter her life.
Listen to how Emma is remembered by her friends and family.
Everyone has a right to equal healthcare.
Ask your healthcare authority to sign up to the Getting it right charter today.
