Maeve Boothby O'Neill - articles about her life, death and inquest

Is anyone planning on doing updates on the inquest or is the only way to follow it by emailing the address to ask for a link? Has anyone done this? I would like to follow but not sure how to do it and would appreciate it if anyone knows that someone is doing summaries. I hope this helps the family and gets more coverage. Thanks x

 

I’m also interested whether anyone is able to update us? I wanted to attend but I just can’t bear it and am not well enough.
Is anyone allowed to report on what’s said or are there restrictions?

 

I hope someone can and does. Unfortunately it's all overnight in my time zone.

 

I have registered and have a link but do not anticipate being able to listen to much of it. Two hospital appointments next week and following up issues from aGP appointment last week will more than use the energy I have so I don't anticipate posting on here much next week.

My plan was to register and listen when able, leaving the link to the inquest live even when not present. I hope others' interest in registering will be a support to Sarah and Sean, and demonstrate to anyone involved the interest of the community.


https://www.s4me.info/threads/maeve-oneill.23420/page-3#post-504056

There are descriptions of how to obtain a link in posts on the above thread and on facebook.

 

I think @dave30th is likely to be tracking the inquest.

 

Yes, I'm headed to Exeter at the moment. I'll be there. But I'm not sure exactly how I'll cover it, or if I'll just be taking notes and writing something later. It seems likely there will be a fair amount of press from daily UK news organizations, including local ones, who would be the most likely to provide daily coverage. When I tried to listen to the pre-trial hearings from San Francisco, I couldn't make out a thing--besides sound problems, it was also the middle of the night. At least now I'm in the right time zone.

 

A shortened version of the article I posted above (#60) appeared in the print edition of the Sunday Telegraph:

(Also, if anyone's hitting the login wall, here's an archive link to the online version.)

 

I feel the lack of ‘specialist care’ is a bit of a red herring. The main current problem is the failure of medical services to seriously listen to the patient to accommodate sensory issues and to introduce alternative feeding methods when needed to avoid malnutrition and dehydration. This does not require an ME/CFS specialist service, but is something any reasonable sized hospital should be able to achieve.

In an ideal world we need medical specialists down the line, especially as we don’t know the prognosis of those with very severe ME even if they are not harmed by the doctors meant to help them. It may be that the right management may stabilise the condition or even allow some spontaneous improvement or it may be that deterioration will continue later requiring central lines for nutrition and ultimately palliative care, but at least it will not be inappropriate medical care killing people.

 

Reading the Chief Coroner’s guidance on recordings I note that:

– All inquests have to be recorded.

– The coroner may provide a copy to “any person who in the opinion of the coroner is a proper person to have possession of it”

– “This recording is not to be used for any purpose other than transcribing for possible legal proceedings or listening to.”

– “Any other use of the recording or any part of it by copying, publishing, transmitting or broadcasting in any way (including on the internet) without the prior consent of the coroner, may be a contempt of court punishable with imprisonment.”

– “If the recording is used to produce a transcript, the transcript must be shown to the coroner before being used for the purpose of any further proceedings.”

– “On the rare occasions when LiveNote or similar is used there will be an electronic transcript.”


Does anyone know if there will be an electronic transcript? (That would have been determined at the pre-inquest hearing.)

Does anyone know if approved electronic transcripts can be shared online?

 

For those who link to the Inquest on Teams, it is vital that sound and camera are off. This is requested in the formal letter from the Coroner's office which provided the link.

I have just read on fb that at the pre inquest, the Coroner turned off all sound because proceedings were being disturbed by interruptions from those linking to proceedings. I can't provide a confirmation of this (anyone?) but there are certainly frequent warnings to keep sound and camera off.

 

It would be interesting to have a montage of all the similar headlines over the years. I would assume no less than 40 spanning the last 30 years at least.

Damn I can't wait for AIs to be smart enough to do this automagically. It will be such a boon to us. Just ask and you shall receive.

 

I would like to know if there is a list of who is giving evidence on which days. I know Dr Weir is there on Tuesday, but that’s it.

I have the link to attend and they have said that you should keep your connection open once you have logged on because they may not let you in later in the day.

 

Very good point, together with “ME isn’t real/you don’t have ME just mental problems” it’s like the school playground “my dad is bigger than your dad” my ME Specialist service will tell your Psychiatrist to bugger off! If there no ME specialist service with an ME Consultant then the average Psychiatrist, Dietician, Consultant can’t be expected to take “orders” from a mere patient!

 

Seems this twitter account is providing some updates from the inquest:

ETA: Also updates on hashtag #MaeveInquest

 

From P Keeble tweets
So far
It’s been decided that Maeve’s Gp Dr Shenton is too unwell to attend, instead focussed written questions will be sent. She has PTSD.
Another GP Partner Dr McDermott doesn’t seem to remember much, despite many complaints from Sarah Boothby about lack of help. Seems like these complaints weren’t dealt with. He did a home visit, recommended hospital if needed. Refers to “chronic fatigue”.P Keeble says it’s hard to sum him up.

 

Describing inability to eat because too sick/weak as "self neglect" is grotesque.

 

The letters and notes of Dr Shelton being read are sometimes damning - need an NG tube, lack of care plan, needs admission, no one willing to help

 

ME Foggy Dog on Xitter:

“Two observations from the inquest proceedings so far. 1 - The GP, who is rightly being treated with dignity and compassion and not being forced to appear to give evidence, has received more dignity and compassion than Maeve did.

2. The GP 'stand in' keeps saying he's not a M.E specialist. There are no M.E specialists in the NHS - that's part of the problem.“