Frequent use of the emergency department by a man with learning disability: an analysis of clinical and systemic contributors

This is a case study of a Canadian man with a learning disability who visited emergency departments more than 50 times in a 10‐year period, in times of stress. During these visits he gave false reports of his current symptoms and psychiatric history, sometimes gaining hospital admission. The case illustrates how such behaviour can develop over time, and how a general health services model (rather than a specialised learning disability service) can fail to meet the needs of independent clients with learning disabilities. It offers some suggestions for how better to meet the needs of such clients in the future.