Vancouver General Hospital accused of discrimination
Posted September 28, 2016 3:49 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A Vancouver lawyer is accusing Vancouver General Hospital of discrimination against elderly patients, claiming they neglected the medical needs of his mother.
Mason Loh says his mother, Carol Loh, was admitted to Vancouver General with symptoms of a stroke, but doctors misdiagnosed her.
Loh claims that even after his mother suffered a stroke, she was denied physiotherapy and rehabilitation based on her age and dementia.
“Does our healthcare system treat the elderly in our society as second-class citizens? Just because they’re old, they’re feeble, they’re sick, do we just easily give up on them?” Loh says.
Loh says his mother remains in the hospital’s care.
“We would like to call on the government to intervene before irreparable injury is caused to my mother, and we are also calling on other families who have such experiences in the hospital.”
Gavin Wilson, Director of Public Affairs at Vancouver Coastal Health, says they haven’t heard of any instances of discrimination against aging patients.
“We provide excellent care. Vancouver General Hospital is one of the best hospitals in the country,” Wilson says, “I can’t agree that we discriminate against our elderly patients. It’s just not true.”
Wilson says he sympathizes with Loh and his family in their time of difficulty, but adds any concerns about treatment received should be directed to the Patient Care Quality Office.
