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Canada is justly proud of its human rights record, but even in this progressive country, human rights abuses can and do occur on a very personal level. Can a father prevent his son from having access to his own mother despite her wish to remain in contact? Apparently, he can, particularly if the woman in question is disabled.

The chilling story of Mrs. Carby-Samuels illustrates that even in Canada, an elderly, disabled woman can be deprived of her basic human rights and dignity. Worst of all, the son, Mr. Raymond Carby-Samuels was also Mrs Carby-Samuels’ caregiver – a role that has not been occupied since Mr. Carby-Samuels senior obtained the legal right to exclude his son from the family home.

The consequences of this action have been all too swift. Mrs. Carby-Samuels’ condition has steadily deteriorated after the loss of her son and caregiver, and she is no longer able to walk or even speak. At this point, it seems that social services should step in, and that’s just what Raymond Carby-Samuels hoped to arrange, but after a few visits that brought disturbing reports of his mother’s deteriorating health, these visits were also blocked by Mr. Carby-Samuels Senior.

The terrifying truth is that if you’re disabled and elderly, your wishes can be ignored with impunity, and not even social services will be able to ensure that you get proper care. You can be held as a prisoner in your own home, unable to communicate with the outside world, unable to call for help and unable to escape your situation.

Despite having lost the ability to speak, the elderly Mrs. Carby-Samuels nevertheless attempted to alert the outside world to another disturbing aspect of her situation – physical abuse. But her handwritten note was not treated as a cry for help should be by the authorities, and Raymond Carby-Samuels is left fearing for his mother’s wellbeing and safety.

Shocking though this may seem, a woman’s husband still holds the power of life and death over her, even in Canada. If Mrs. Carby-Samuels had not been an invalid, she may have stood some chance of escaping her situation, but with both social services and her son blocked from intervening there seems to be very little hope that Mrs. Carby-Samuels will receive proper care or ever be ‘allowed’ to see the person who loves her most – her own son.