Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada.
J Intellect Disabil. 2022 Sep;26(3):594-602. doi: 10.1177/17446295211009339. Epub 2021 May 10.
The risk of viral infection during the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many hospitals to prohibit all patient visitors, including family caregivers for people with intellectual disabilities. Drawing on a postmodern, intersubjective view of the body, as well as my experience as the mother of a young adult with profound disabilities, I argue that caregiver knowledge while unconventional within the medical paradigm must be viewed as essential expertise. People with profound intellectual disabilities often have concurrent, complex medical issues that are complicated by their inability to self-advocate. Optimal care rests upon the ongoing presence and expertise of their primary caregiver. Medical professionals risk patient care by excluding the essential expertise of family caregivers at any time, and specifically during COVID-19.
在 COVID-19 大流行期间，病毒感染的风险导致许多医院禁止所有患者探视者，包括智障人士的家庭护理人员。借鉴后现代的、主体间的身体观，以及我作为一个有严重残疾的成年子女的母亲的经验，我认为，在医学范式内，护理人员的知识虽然非传统，但必须被视为必要的专业知识。有严重智力残疾的人通常同时患有复杂的医疗问题，由于他们无法自我主张，这些问题变得更加复杂。他们的主要护理人员的持续存在和专业知识是最佳护理的基础。医疗专业人员在任何时候，特别是在 COVID-19 期间，将患者护理的风险排除在家庭护理人员的必要专业知识之外。
