Dr Robert Hoffman reveals patients sedated instead of being sent to hospital

Robert Hoffman, who treats several residents at Glenlyn Aged Care Facility in Glenroy, says Royal Melbourne Hospital had organised to transfer coronavirus-positive patients to hospital but cancelled the ambulances. Instead, the patients were sedated. Picture: Aaron Francis. The Australian can reveal Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services has refused to hospitalise COVID-infected aged care residents. Instead, residents with clinical needs who are at risk of “wandering” and infecting other residents and staff have been heavily sedated with medications including morphine, midazolam or the anti-psychotic, risperidone. Medical experts say the practice of sedating elderly patients with COVID-19 is “inhumane” and risks exacerbating their respiratory condition and potentially even causing an earlier death. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/sick-sedated-residents-trapped-in-agedcare-homes/news-story/e5dbfc18acf5ca560869de825f60e0ca