An 88-year-old woman has died after going 28 days without food or water during end of life care, her heartbroken son has claimed. Sarene Taylor was admitted to hospital in North Wales around four weeks ago having suffered a stroke, but was later sent back to a care home as doctors began end of life care and withdrew foods and fluids.
North Wales Live reports that Ms Taylor passed away on Monday morning (March 20), days after her son Rob Taylor posted an emotional video on Twitter in which he claimed she had been left "to die slowly from dehydration and malnutrition in front of our very eyes". He went on to describe the experience as "harrowing" as he claimed that the approach to end of life care was "inhumane".
Confirming his mother's death, Mr Taylor, a decorated former North Wales rural police officer, said her treatment was in the last few weeks of her life was "disgraceful". He added that he planned to report the circumstances that led to her death to North Wales Police and the Older People's Commissioner for Wales.
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"I understand end of life care, and the carers and district nurses do a fantastic job," he said in a statement. "But to deny a human being food and water is disgraceful and we as a society need to ensure that this doesn't happen again. The family thank everyone for their kind messages and loving support during these past weeks."
The sad news comes days after Mr Taylor shared his despair at his mother's situation, which he described as "absolutely heartbreaking". In a powerful video, he claimed that the withdrawal of food and water was "inhumane" and should not be allowed in 2023.
"My mum is 88-years of age and had a fantastic life, but sadly four weeks ago today, she was admitted to a hospital in North Wales, with what we found out to be a stroke," he explained. "I obviously went up to be with her and spend time with her - on the Monday which is three weeks gone - and this Monday the doctor told me that there was nothing more they could do for her sadly and all fluids and food were withdrawn and she was put on end of life care.
"I spent quite a lot of time with her - and then on leaving and waiting for the phone call, because I had to go somewhere else unfortunately, I then discovered I had caught Covid, so I couldn't immediately go back - on the Wednesday, just gone three weeks ago - I was told we had to take her from the hospital. So arranged for her to be taken back to the care home."
An emotional Mr Taylor continued: "This is not a story about illegality or legality, it's about ethics. My mum is still alive - 24 to 25 days in without any food, any water, no IV drip, nothing - she's still alive - and it's inhumane and absolutely harrowing to the family and inhumane.
"That such a precious lady has been allowed to lie on a bed in a care home - in fairness being seen once a day by a district nurse and they do an outstanding job, it's nothing against them or the care home - but it's the ethics that she is just left to die, slowly from dehydration and malnutrition in front of our very eyes.
"This is how you would treat people back in the 11th and 12th Century - not 2023. It's absolutely harrowing. There is nothing we can do, absolutely nothing we can do - and they have been wonderful, it's just that it's incredible that she's probably suffering and it's heartbreaking, it's absolutely heartbreaking for us."
In response to the video, Andrea Hughes, director of nursing for BCUHB’s east integrated health community, had said: “We fully appreciate what a difficult time this is for Mr Taylor and his family. While we cannot comment on individual cases in any detail, I can confirm that we are aware of Mr Taylor’s concerns and we remain in daily contact with him to ensure that Mrs Taylor receives the most appropriate care.”
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