Manchester, England, Apr 5, 2019 / 10:55 am
The international federation L'Arche says that a British hospital's mistreatment of a man with Down syndrome in the weeks leading up to his death point to systemic faults in the medical care of the disabled, especially within the UK's National Health Service.
Giuseppi Ulleri, 61, died in 2016 from pneumonia, after being hospitalized at the Manchester Royal Institute following a fall. Ulleri, known as Joe, was a member of L'Arche Manchester. He died several days after L'Arche members and Ulleri's family members warned hospital officials that the man's health condition was deteriorating rapidly.
Last month, after a two-year inquest, a jury British concluded that Ulleri's death was partially caused by hospital failures.
"Joe was a joy to have in our lives. He loved life, loved music, loved parties, loved hats, loved his family and loved his friends. He didn't deserve to die without adequate care, without adequate food, and without adequate pain relief," L'Arche members said in a March 29 statement.