Editorial.

• Jurisdiction: Australia
• Author: Thomas, Lee
• Date: 01 August 2013

Many of you may have seen the coverage on ABC's Lateline mid-July on residential aged care. The program, which aired on Monday 15 July, highlighted the critical lack of staff and training in some nursing homes resulting in many elderly people being left to die unnecessarily and/or suffer in great pain. The program was quite graphic and distressing. It featured the story of Margaret McEvoy, who was screaming in pain for five days with an undiagnosed broken thigh bone, infection and severe dehydration, while reportedly nursing home staff considered she was attention-seeking. Her daughter fought for her to be taken to hospital, where she died six weeks later. After the program aired, Lateline was reportedly contacted by hundreds of viewers who wanted to tell their stories of how their relatives had been treated in nursing homes. Lateline reporter Margot O'Neill noted...