Photo: Unsplash / RNZ composite
Parents believe poor care by staff and provider led to son's death
They say he should never have been placed in NZCL care facility, and initial assessment was flawed
Health and Disability Commissioner found provider breached the code of patients' rights - but case does not meet threshold for prosecution
not meet threshold for prosecution NZCL says it accepts the finding and it's made changes
Health NZ insists Needs Assessment and Care and Rehabilitation Plan were appropriate
WorkSafe and Police refuse to investigate.
The parents of a 20-year-old disabled man who died under compulsory care are devastated that no one is being held accountable for what they believe was "gross negligence".
A receipt for a curry found in Jacob Davies' room at the NZCL residential facility after his death may hold the clue to what killed him.
Jacob had the genetic disorder Prader-Willi Syndrome, which causes intellectual disability and uncontrollable, compulsive appetite.
His mother, Jo Davies, said it was not just about weight gain, although some people with the condition have binged themselves to death.
"If Jacob wasn't supervised, he would just eat everything.
"He wouldn't leave anything on a plate. He would pick food up off the floor and eat it, he'd take food out of the bin and eat it.
"They're not safe around food. There's also a choking risk because people with Prader-Willi eat really, really fast. I think 10 percent of deaths are from choking."
But back to that fateful curry: Jacob spent his $40 allowance on the meal, including garlic naan, onion bajis and a mango lassi.
It is thought he swallowed something sharp - possibly a bone - which perforated his bowel, but no one was watching.
Staff notes from that day record "Jacob drank all the milk".
His mother wonders if he was trying wash the object down.
"But we'll never know, because no one asked him what happened."
The next day, Jacob ate nothing at all.
"That is a major, major red flag in someone with Prader-Willi.
Continue Reading on RNZ
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.