My sister was afraid to be alone, to sleep alone. My family made one giant bed on the living room floor. It was a safe space. My parents still sleep on the floor, layered blankets on top of blankets; my sister could have went home if she were told the truth. She could've lied in her own spot. She deserved that.
My sister's outcome wasn't caused by cancer but by healthcare professionals failing to carry out their duties. Consequently, Brianne was deprived of something she should have retained: the opportunity to spend her remaining time with comfort, clarity, and dignity.
They failed to provide her with truthful information. Although Brianne was aware that her cancer was incurable, she was never informed about the extent of its progression, the increasing strain on her body, or the true risks associated with further treatment. She was not advised that she was nearing a stage where aggressive therapy might hasten her death more than the cancer itself. She relied on their guidance. They allowed her to face danger without appropriate warnings.
They failed to offer her options. She was never informed that hospice care was documented behind her back, that choosing comfort over additional procedures was possible, that high-dose treatment was not mandatory, or that suffering was not a prerequisite for continued care. She believed she had only one course of action because that was all that was presented to her. Her right to select the manner of her final days was denied.
They failed to heed her symptoms. My sister reported a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, coughing, feverish sensations, shortness of breath, and chest discomfort. These symptoms were clear indicators of infection and deteriorating health. Nevertheless, her throat was not examined until she reached a critical condition. Necessary imaging was not ordered. Her pneumonia was not followed up. Despite repeatedly seeking assistance, she was consistently overlooked. She was SILENCED!
They failed to shield her from harm. Standard oncology practice dictates withholding chemotherapy when infection is suspected. Fundamental medical principles advise against administering high-risk treatments to unstable patients. Despite this, they proceeded. She was cleared for chemotherapy even though her pneumonia had not been reassessed, her respiratory symptoms were worsening, her condition was declining, early neurological symptoms were present, metabolic abnormalities existed, and no diagnostic evaluation was conducted prior to treatment. They subjected her to treatment for which she was medically unfit, triggering a sequence of events that culminated in her death.
They failed to investigate her mental decline. Twenty-four hours after chemotherapy, symptoms such as hallucinations, confusion, slurred speech, mumbling, and altered cognition should have prompted urgent evaluations for sepsis, pneumonia, metabolic disturbances, or hypoxia. Instead, no action was taken. Her cognitive deterioration was documented without inquiry into its causes.
They failed to communicate effectively, and this failure persisted. There was no effective transfer of information between hospitals. Her condition was not adequately explained. No urgent warnings were conveyed. No preparatory orders awaited her arrival. The staff at the receiving hospital were essentially uninformed, not due to negligence but because critical information was not transmitted. Her safety was compromised in the gap between two institutions responsible for her care.
They failed to prioritize her needs over the treatment protocol. At some point, the treatment plan became more important than the patient herself. The focus was on advancing to the next stage of treatment rather than on her ability to endure it, her wishes, or its potential benefits. They lost sight of the fact that they were treating a person, not merely following a protocol.
They failed to provide her with the peaceful end she deserved. Brianne's death was neither gentle nor accompanied by a full understanding of her condition. She was denied the choice of comfort over fear. She died wearing a BiPAP mask, confused, frightened, and struggling to breathe unaided. This outcome was not inevitable. Alternative paths existed. This was not the death she deserved.
Thank you to those who have shared and signed this petition. No one deserves this.