By Larry Peterson
 |
| en.wikipedia.com |
It seems that
the fear of litigation has triggered the ongoing evaporation of "Common sense". What
triggered my need to defend "common sense" are three separate
incidents that I experienced over the past month. As you will see, each of
these incidents, though simple and uneventful, not only rejected the use of "common
sense" but the collateral damage from these rejections was the trashing of
the Golden
Rule.
Incident 1:
My wife was
in the hospital during the middle of March. She had been taken off life-support
and was in a room breathing on her own but unconscious. I was there with her
and her head was bent over onto her shoulder. I thought I might try to lift her
head and make her more comfortable. However, I was unable to do it by myself as
she had a large CPAP mask strapped
on.
Just then
a young lady came into the room, gave me a big smile and asked, "Is there
anything I can do to help you?"
I was
thrilled at her timing and I explained how I just needed a bit of help
repositioning my wife to make her more comfortable. The young lady shrugs and
sheepishly says, "Oh sir, I'm sorry. I'm a volunteer and we are not
allowed to touch the patients."
I quickly
found out that the volunteers could not feed anyone, touch anyone and can basically
do nothing more than be a "gopher" for the nurses or get me a cup of
coffee. As far as helping the woman in the bed, NOT allowed.
Incident 2:
I am an
EMHC and I bring Holy Communion to about a half dozen seniors in an assisted
living facility on Sundays. One of my communicants had five or six newspapers
in front of his door. I picked them up and headed to the main desk where a
security guard was stationed. I dumped the papers on the countertop and said,
"Hey Tony, what's going on down in 103. There is no answer and all his
newspapers are outside his door?"
"Oh
yeah, Mr. A is in the hospital. They took him earlier this week." Tony refused
to tell me what hospital. So I asked, "How come no one picks up all these
newspapers?"
He shook
his head and shrugged, "We are not allowed to touch anyone including their
“stuff”. In fact, if someone falls right in front of my desk I am not allowed
to help them up or touch them. I have to call 911. If I touch them I will lose
my job."
In my
standard inbred NYC manner I say, "C'mon Tony. Gimme a break--whaddaya
mean you can't help them. That's ridiculous."
He
reached under the countertop and pulled out a sheet of paper. It was the rules
and regulations from the facility. "Here, you think I'm making this
up?" Everything he told me was on that sheet of paper.
Incident 3:
I have
been getting three to four calls a day from a number in area code 954. I have
no idea where that might be and I do not care. In addition, the caller(s) never
spoke. They just disconnected. I never
answer the phone unless the caller identifies themselves but the relentless
pursuit from area code 954 eventually beat me into submission. I caved
and answered the phone. A pleasant, melodic voice floats into my ear saying,
"Is this Mr. Peterson?"
My
immediate response (I love to get a bit flippy) was, "Ya think. You have
been calling me over and over and over never leaving a message and now
you want to know who I am? Who are YOU?"
“Heather”
introduced herself and told me she was calling to see if I wanted to renew my newspaper
subscription. "Heather, are you telling me that different phone solicitors
from your paper have been calling me three to four times a day and not one of
you left a message? Do I have that right?"
"Uh,
yes, I'm sorry Mr. Peterson. We are not allowed to leave a message."
There is
nothing I can add to that. These "professional"
people will call folks up all day long and never leave a message. They are not
allowed. Whew! That, to me, that is harassment. Yet, it is justified because it
is a "rule" or "policy" of an invisible entity called a
“company”.
Natural Law , present
in the heart of each man and established by reason, is universal in its
precepts and its authority extends to all men. It expresses the dignity of the
person and determines the basis for his fundamental rights and duties." CCC1956
I don't know about you but if I see someone fall I will (if possible) help them up. If I lose my job because of my actions--so be it. If I call someone and I hear a recorded response, I will leave a message. The Golden Rule and “common sense” go hand in hand. This other stuff is “madness”.
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