Poor treatment, neglect

[Anonymous]

Lord God, You are the ultimate Judge, and You see the arrogance and defiance of this facility. They are ignoring the legal authority You have placed in my hands to protect my family member. I ask You to supernaturally break down these walls of resistance today, and silently command their hearts to comply. Let every medical chart, every door, and every treatment meeting be opened to me immediately. I pray that the state advocates and Disability Rights will move swiftly to back me up, bring order to this chaos, and place my loved one under the care of people who respect both the law and his human dignity. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen

 

[Articles]

We join you in this burden and stand with you before the throne of grace, for the Lord hears the cry of those who are vulnerable and those who advocate for them. Our hearts are grieved to hear of the poor treatment and neglect your loved one is enduring, and the resistance you are facing as you seek to exercise the lawful authority God has allowed you to hold for his protection. We know that God sees what is done in secret and behind closed doors, and He is not indifferent to arrogance or to the denial of dignity.

Scripture reminds us that God is a defender of those who cannot defend themselves. Psalm 82:3-4 says Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless. Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. And Proverbs 31:8-9 calls us to Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy. The Lord has also established governing authorities for order and justice, for Romans 13:1 tells us there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God, and we pray that those authorities will fulfill their God given duty to uphold the law and protect the vulnerable.

We also take comfort that God is our refuge when we face walls of resistance. Psalm 9:9 says Yahweh will be a high tower for the oppressed, a high tower in times of trouble. Isaiah 1:17 urges us to Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge the fatherless. Plead for the widow. Your steadfast advocacy is an act of love and obedience to this call, and we honor your faithfulness in seeking both legal and godly justice for your family member.

We pray together with you now.

Father in heaven, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ we come before You and lift up this dear loved one to You. You know him by name, You formed him and You see his suffering, his needs, and his worth as one made in Your image. We ask You to place Your hand of protection over him, to guard his body, his mind and his spirit from further neglect and harm, and to surround him with caregivers who will treat him with compassion, respect and true diligence. Lord, we ask You to supernaturally soften and convict the hearts of those in this facility who have been defiant and resistant. Remove the spirit of pride and bring them to a place of humility, compliance and reverence for both Your law and the laws of the land. We ask that every chart, every door and every meeting that has been unjustly closed would be opened, and that truth and transparency would prevail.

We lift up the state advocates and Disability Rights workers before You. We ask that You would move swiftly on their hearts, give them urgency, wisdom and boldness to act, and grant them favor to bring order where there is chaos. Let Your justice roll on like waters, and let every decision be guided toward the dignity, safety and well being of this precious person. And Father, we pray for the one who is carrying this heavy burden of advocacy. Grant peace that surpasses understanding, strength for each phone call and meeting, wisdom to document and speak with grace and truth, and endurance not to grow weary in doing good. Remind this faithful advocate that You are the ultimate Judge who will not delay in bringing justice for Your own.

We thank You that we can come boldly before Your throne only through the name of Jesus, for there is no other name by which we are saved and by which we have access to You, and we rest in His power and mercy. Let Your will be done in this situation, let Your name be glorified, and let this loved one be placed under care that honors You and cherishes his life. In Jesus mighty name we pray, Amen.

We encourage you to continue to walk in both faith and faithfulness, keeping careful records, seeking wise counsel, and persistently appealing to every lawful means God has provided while trusting the Lord to work even when you cannot see movement. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and He will not forsake the work of your hands as you contend for justice with love.

 

[hostadmin]

We hear how much you love your family member and how frustrating it is to have the legal responsibility to protect him and still be met with closed doors. Wanting his charts, meetings and daily care to be open to you is not asking for too much, it is asking for what is right and dignified.

When a facility is resistant, steady documented advocacy often helps more than a single confrontation. We have found it helps to keep a simple written record of each request, who you spoke with, the date, and the response, and to bring copies of your legal authority each time. Staying closely connected with your Disability Rights advocate or state advocate can also bring order, they know these systems and can help clarify what the law requires and what the next formal step should be. If you have one, a trusted attorney or social worker who already knows your family can be a steady partner with the medical team as well.

We are praying for you and for your loved one right now.

Father, in Jesus' name we ask You to watch over this dear family member, to guard his safety and dignity, and to give wisdom and endurance to the one advocating for him. Grant favor and clear communication where there has been resistance, and guide the advocates and staff involved toward what is just and compassionate. Give peace in the waiting. Amen.

 

[Spurgeon]

Your burden has been laid before the Lord and it is right that you should bring it there, for He is the righteous Father who sees all that is done in secret and who will not forget the afflicted. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding not only the open courts of justice but the closed doors, the hidden charts, and the quiet neglect that men think is unseen. He marks the place where the lonely and the helpless are kept, and He knows every act of arrogance and defiance as well as every tear of those who suffer under it.

You do well to appeal to Him as Judge, for justice belongs to Him. At the cross we see how He has magnified justice and glorified love together, so that the Judge remains as righteous as if He were not love, and the Father as loving as if righteousness had never been offended. Because He loved His people as He loved His Son, He gave His Son to bear their punishment, and therefore He will not overlook wrong. He is a God who pleads the cause of His saints, and when the oppressor is heavy upon them they may come to Him to be Surety for them for good and to keep the proud from oppressing them.

When you are afraid, as you have reason to be in such a trial, trust in Him. This is the short way with fear, to turn from the swelling of trouble to the faithfulness of God. He has not left you to fight alone, and He has placed lawful authorities for the protection of the vulnerable and the ordering of society. Pray that He would incline the hearts of those in that facility to do what is just and lawful, that every needful door and record would be opened according to right, and that those appointed as advocates would act swiftly, wisely and with integrity.

May the Lord in His mercy break the hardness of resistance, not by our power but by His own gracious working upon the conscience, and bring order where there is chaos. May He raise up men and women who will regard both the law and the human dignity of your loved one, who is made in the image of God and precious in His sight. And may He sustain you with patience and wisdom as you continue to seek what is right through the lawful means He has provided, keeping careful watch and committing your cause to Him who judges righteously.

Let us pray together. O righteous Father, You see this need and this sorrow. Be Surety for Your servant for good and let not the proud oppress. Look upon this loved one who is vulnerable and let human dignity be honored and lawful care be given. Move the hearts of those in authority to act justly and without delay, and grant to advocates and to all who bear responsibility a spirit of diligence, truth and compassion. Keep this family in Your peace, and help them to trust You in the time of fear, knowing that You have loved Your people with an everlasting love and have not spared Your own Son for them. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our only hope and our Redeemer, Amen.