Editorial

OPINION

Editorial

Great advocate: Celia Lashlie was a great New Zealander who pushed for social change. Photo abc.net.au

A great New Zealander leaves moral legacy of hope

The passing of community researcher and author Celia Lashlie has left a hole in New Zealand’s line-up of essential people.

Celia was a great advocate for social change having worked in both women’s and men’s prisons through a long-standing career in the corrections system.

I had the pleasure of interviewing her when she came to a town where I worked in media and she spoke about many social issues in the New Zealand community.

One conversation I clearly remember her having with me, was about the importance of parents showing love for their children.

Celia said that in her experience of often having some of the hardest criminals in her office, who had done some of the worst crimes, and how they became like crying babies when they talked with her about the relationships they had with their parents – particularly the mother/child relationship.

She said it was an eye opener as to how important that relationship is to the positive progress children make in life.

I thought at the time, ‘this is a woman who rolls her sleeves up and gets involved with the issues’, and obviously didn’t see her roles in the prisons as ‘just a job’.

Many people have told about their great experiences at meeting and knowing Celia Lashlie. 

I only spoke to her for a few minutes, but those few minutes had a great impact on my life.

Books Celia Lashlie has written encompass her passion about social issues and communities dealing with these issues they face.

Such titles as:

The Power of Mothers

He’ll Be Ok: Growing Gorgeous Boys Into Good Men.

http://www.angusrobertson.com.au/search/?text=celia+lashlie&gclid=CjwKEAiA05unBRCymrGilanF9SwSJACqDFRmw5IPS3vMypBvPoxiFRDtKOFcg5zHvtTO7UsUlNtpKxoCQKLw_wcB

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Responsibility of doctors – are these professionals sometimes considered by their patients as the last step before divine intervention or should they step up to this responsibility more?

When we hear about people who become ferral towards their doctor/s because they believe their life-threatening illness could have been prevented, are we laying a bit too much repsonsibility at the feet of these highly trained professionals?

Lately, I’ve been hearing stories globally, about people being given stress medication and told to take a walk when they present to their doctor with various complaints, with some having been serious. 

We hear of some people having died after being sent home following a medical consultation for something that may have seemed minor at the time.

But is this anyone’s fault really?

Although it seems such a harsh saying: ‘When your time’s up, it’s up!’ 

Perhaps this is the stark reality. 

Cold comfort perhaps for a young mother or father who are told they no longer have long on this earth and to put their affairs in order. They don’t get to grow old with their partner, to see their children graduate, or get their first job or get married, enjoy grandchildren. It’s a lot to take in and handle all at once.

I have had to support three people that are sadly no longer here after receiving that life-defining message and they had to live the best they could, spending as much time with their family as possible, knowing their ‘time’ would soon be up. It’s also a very hard situation in which to give comfort, particularly if someone is very frightened of what’s coming.

But I wonder what it’s actually like to be a dedicated health professional and have to deliver such a message?

I remember sitting beside my father and holding his hand, when the doctor said: “We have the results of the samples taken during your examination and I can confirm you have a malignant growth in your osophagus. I’m sorry, but there isn’t anything we can do for you, I only wish there was,” he said.

Of course at the time being young, I took it pretty hard. My dad’s reaction was: “Oh well, I’ve had 65 good years, if I make it to 70, I’ll be doing pretty well.” 

He was being brave and the view of life for a 60-plus year-old compared to a 20-year-old, is quite different. 

Sadly, he didn’t make his 66^th birthday. 

Nine months later, he became a wonderful memory and continues to be, every day and always will be.

But I could see the doctor was visibly moved to have had to deliver that news in the most professional way possible as part of his job. 

Although I was sorry for my dad most of all, my mum secondly and for myself and our extended family and friends, I did feel sorry for the doctor as well. He had been a great family doctor and continued to be, until he finally left the district some years later.

Although part of the job telling someone their life is virtually over can’t be easy. Even with all the training under the sun to handle it, it still must rattle the spirit of humanity significantly.

As rewarding as it must be to be in the highly dedicated role of doctor or nurse – I certainly wouldn’t like their job in some ways.

Beating the Odds aims to talk to doctors about this unenviable task and how they handle this part of their job. We will keep you posted.

NOTE: 

Opinions, experiences and stories about how you’ve beaten the odds, are very welcome.

However, if you have any concerns or complaints in regard to treatment from health professionals it is better not to air them publicly as any legal processes could be significantly compromised. The Disability Commission in New Zealand can point you in the right direction in such matters. 

Any blaming or defamatory comments will be disallowed on these pages. 

Thank you for your contributions and understanding.