Newspapers and media cover CoVid deaths and infections daily, but what never gets mentioned is a hidden tragedy of this virus—isolation.
As a medical malpractice attorney, I get calls daily from people whose loved ones are in hospitals due to surgeries or illnesses unrelated to the CoVid. Some tell me their loved ones are dying. Alone. Hospitals and nursing homes are doing the right thing in keeping out visitors during this crisis. However, the toll on the patients and their families is a heavy one.
“I don’t know what’s going on with my husband. He’s been in the hospital for two weeks now and I can’t visit him and hold his hand.”
“My wife died in the hospital and I couldn’t be with her in her last moments. I never got to kiss her goodbye.”
“How do I know the care my loved one is getting is good—they won’t let me in.”
This is the hidden tragedy of the CoVid pandemic. There won’t be a solution for this until there’s a solution to CoVid. It affects more than just its victims; in a sense, we are all its victims.
It’s like the parable of the farmer coming upon a sparrow lying in the road with its legs up in the air. “What are you doing,” the farmer asked. “I heard the sky is falling, and I want to do everything I can to stop that.” The farmer laughed and said “You can’t keep the sky from falling with those spindly little legs.” The little bird looked up and said, “One does what one can.”
Wear masks. Do what you can.
