Case study 2 David is a worker with a local support service. He supports Geoff w
ID: 127794 • Letter: C
Question
Case study 2
David is a worker with a local support service. He supports Geoff who has muscular dystrophy and is non-ambulant. David supports him with his personal hygiene and most of his daily living activities. Part of Geoff’s support plan includes going to the local footy once a fortnight. However, this weekend the grand final is being held at the main football ground in town.
When Geoff and David get to the football ground, David sees a few of his mates sitting up in the stand. They wave David up to sit with them. David asks Geoff if he would mind if he sat with his friends. Geoff says he is happy to sit on the side as he is not able to get up to where David’s friends are sitting. The footy game is great but later that night Geoff becomes angry that David left him on his own to watch the game. He decides that he is going to sue David for breach of duty of care.
Did David breach his duty of care to Geoff? If yes, how? If not, why not?
Were there any risks or potential risks to Geoff? If yes, what were they? If no, why not?
Has Geoff been abused or neglected? If yes, in what way? If no, why not?
Is this occasion a reportable incident? If yes, why? If not, why not?
Explanation / Answer
1..Yes david has breached his duty of care towards geoff,as geoff is suffering from muscular dystrophy he will not be able to move much.Even asking his permission to join his friends ,it is considered to be breach of duty as he fails to live upto his stndard by neglecting him in leaving alone.
2.There may be some potential risks of leaving him alone,as the crowd will be more in football grounds and any discomfort caused to him may be a severe damage.Sometimes having a severe pain also leads to respiratory failure in some kind of muscular dystrophy which will be very risky to the patient.
3.geoff has been neglected as david knows that he cant move much but still he was interested to join his friends .
4.No it is not a reportable incident.,if someone has died or injured severely comes under reportable incident for which it did not happen.