Monday Muses~vile~degrading~humiliating
Rosemary McKenzie-Ferguson
Founder at Craig's Table- Recipient Summa Comp Laude 2021-22 Recipient Bloom Making a Difference Award 2023
Until last week I truly hand on heart believed that the workers compensation system could not sink to depth that can only be described as vile degrading and humiliating. However after watching this short clip from Shattered and the depraved requirement that Kathie Melocco was forced to comply with I was left feeling such loathing and bilious.
It matters no matter how I try to break down parts of this clip nothing can explain why a "so-called" professional could think that degradation is an acceptable part of any return to work process.
What is harder to understand is that others who would have had access or who were supervising this "so-called" professional permitted this to happen in the first place.
Questions started to form in my mind.
Nothing can excuse either the "so-called" professional,and nothing can excuse the rehabilitation provider, nothing should prevent credible restrictions being put in place by the authorities at both State and Federal level.
I am seething with anger that a person who was broken of mind moral and spiritually was then preyed upon in such a manner.
Not one person who would have had access to the images stood up for Kathie, not one person contacted her to check on her well-being not one person bowed their head in sorrow and said they were personally sorry. Not one person took on responsibility for further damaging Kathie. Not one person stood for Kathie.
Kathie is one of the strongest people I have ever had the good fortune to meet and to call my friend. But the Kathie I know now is not the Kathie who was defiled by a person who she was meant to trust and rely on.
Kathie is brave, she has gathered strength from places deep inside of herself to sit and tell you her story.
Shattered the docuseries is only coming together because Kathie and Ballina Gee were pushed to react. To learn more click here
Right now as the final stages of Shattered are being pulled together, I know we all owe a debt of gratitude to Kathie and Ballina for putting themselves through torment while at the same time offering love compassion and support to everyone [self included] around them.
I stand in admiration to both Kathie and Ballina.
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As an aside to the clip I hope you have taken the time to watch, you will no doubt be thinking why do so many people involved within the workers compensation process talking about self-harm and suicide, and why is it that when I discuss suicide within the injured worker community do I not provide the emergency numbers.
There is a simple answer, none of the emergency numbers actually have any training regarding the impact of workers compensation. It is not possible for a volunteer at the other end of a phone line to understand the pressure of workers compensation or that the very people who are meant to be offering assistance are the people causing the step towards suicide when they have had no training to understand workers compensation.
Such a phone line is desperately needed, I know just how long it takes to connect to a person who reaches out for help to have that person trust what is being said back and how the real help that is required just does not exist.
Industry providers who know Craig's Table do refer members of the injured worker community through to us, however they never think about the resources that are required to run an emergency phone line.
As for the rest of the workers compensation industry we are told to shut up, suicide is still a taboo subject within the all too precious walls of workers compensation.
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My late Mum thought that I would "do something"within a medical field, I always said I had too much of an aversion to blood to get involved.
Yet here I am today researching male hernia mess and all the known side effects, combining it with who is responsible for removing [if possible] a hernia mesh that was implanted 20yrs+ back. Is it a cost to workers compensation, is it a cost to Medicare, is it even possible to remove the mesh, is it safe to remove the hernia mesh. or is it all another endless conveyor belt of "too hard" to resolve.
If there is someone out there who can point me in the direction of research please let me know: I would appreciate all the help I can get on this issue.
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Once more please sign this very important petition and ask others on your social media platforms to also sign it.
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Time to make a cup of tea, it has been a long day here: dinner will be on time as it always is, I just need a cup of un-interrupted tea first.
Rosemary
Marlo has indulged me this week in honour of my late brother Jackie.
My brother had just discovered music, Ross D Wylie was his favourite singer in 1969. Yesterday was my brothers birthday.
Thank you Marlo.
This week's birthday cake goes to 5 very important members of my family.
Uncle Clem, Henry, Jackie, Trevor and Alicia -each of them born many years apart on November 2nd.
Retired
4moMany thanks Rosemary for an informative read
CEO | Founder | Entrepreneur | Risk and Insurance | Showing the world how insurance touches everything to drive positive change.
4moMy jaw dropped when I saw those text messages: "If I walked past you and you were on fire, I would not stop long enough to URINATE on you." "ask if you can be prescribed some pills so that you have the capacity to appreciate others efforts for you. alternatively prescribe something for you to carry out your suicide threats" I'm speechless. That doesn't happen often.
Founder, author, coach, Allied Health Professional ( Rehabilitation Counsellor)
4moLike you Rosemary McKenzie-Ferguson I’ve heard and witnessed some atrocious behaviour leaving me speechless. And yet we have a new low.