'Cut this crap out': Politicians call for independent patient advocate

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New Brunswick opposition parties are calling for an independent advocate for patients after the death of 52-year-old Greg Garnett, whose wife alleges he was mistreated after she called 911 when he suffered severe chest pains.

The case sparked a heated debate during the CBC Political Panel overhow the investigation into cases like Garnett's should be handled.

Health MinisterBenot Bourque said he was committed to looking at how such cases are handled in other provinces to see what changes can be made here.

"We have to look at what's being done in other provinces to see if there is another way," he said. "We're also open to seeing if there is a better way to do things."

Bourque'sstatement didn't seem enough for Progressive Conservative MLA JeffCarr, who offered his condolences to the Garnett family before criticizing a lack of action by Bourque and the government.

CathyGarnetthas said the problems with Ambulance New Brunswick began when paramedics arrived at her Rowleyhouse outside Saint John 40 minutes after her 911 call and yelled at her husband, who was immobilized by pain, to get himself into a stretcher.

She said Greg was kicked and the paramedics ignored his pain because they were certain it was only back pain. When they reached the hospital, the paramedics' assessment of back pain was conveyed to ER staff, and there was another delay before a CT scan eventually found he had a life-threatening aortic dissection.

Garnett believesthe mistakes, stumbling and insensitivity by paramedics and ER staff played a role in her husband's death five weeks later.

"I've had enough of it," Carr toldBourque. "We're just touching the tip of the iceberg here.

"Ben, you need to take this one a step further, we've had numerous conversations, other files that never went anywhere. This one needs to go one step further."

Carr got emotional as he urged the ministerto make things right for the Garnetts.

"Cut thiscrap out," he said.

All in agreement

Green Party Leader David Coon, NDPLeader Jennifer McKenzie and People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin all agreed on the need for independent investigations of cases like these.

"We do need something that is independent," Coon said. "I would be surprised if there would be any opposition to this in the medical community."

While patients advocates do exist, they are employed at the Horizon andVitalithealth networks andare not independent.

McKenzie called for a completeoverhaul, sayingAmbulance New Brunswick, which is run by the private companyMedavieHealth Services, should be managed by the province.

Although the ambulance service in New Brunswick has come under attack in different parts of the province, the Liberal government renewedMedavie'scontract for another 10 years last year.

McKenzie presented a five-point plan for how the complaints should be handled, including allowing the health-care system to respond.

"The system needs to go in and have their little committees and 'Oh, we need to modify this or change that,'" she argued.

Like the auditor general

The Political Panel from CBC News New Brunswick with Terry Seguin, August 2nd Edition

6 years ago

Duration 54:46

The weekly online New Brunswick political panel, hosted by Terry Seguin.

Coon suggested an advocate who is independent would require a lot of resources for staff and research, so incidents can be properly investigated.

"Right now, the only recourse, really, is to go to the courts, and most people can't afford that," he said.

He said the powers of the advocate should be similar to those of the auditor general.

Austin agreed with Coon but said the system needs to be fixed too.

"You can have all the advocates you want, but at the same time you have to have a system that works," he said.

"Ambulance New Brunswick has been a dismal failure in New Brunswick. That's the reality."