The circumstances of the death of an octogenarian who was left without water or food for almost two days at the Hôtel-Dieu in Lévis are unacceptable, according to Christian Dubé. The Minister of Health wants an explanation.
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“The facts are disturbing and unacceptable. That does not at all represent the care that we must provide to Quebecers in all of our health establishments. We have a thought for the affected family who are currently going through difficult times,” said Minister Dubé’s office in a written statement.
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Gilberte Gosselin, 86, lived her last days in a “toxic” and “totally inhuman” climate, according to members of her family.
Photo provided by the family
Gilberte Gosselin
After she was admitted to the emergency room with a broken hip, her condition deteriorated rapidly, and a doctor requested that she be moved to a “more intimate” room to spend her last moments with her. his family.
However, the octogenarian has never been transferred there. She subsequently spent several hours in her stool, and no member of the hospital staff came to offer her food, despite the family’s requests.
“Situations like that should not happen”, reacted the cabinet of Christian Dubé.
“We have asked the CISSS de Chaudière-Appalaches for explanations and we will ensure that a complete analysis is carried out, we added. happened and to support the CISSS in implementing the required measures.”
“At the same time, we are taking important steps to improve things in our health network, because we know that there is an urgent need to act. We need everyone to work together to get there as quickly as possible. Quebecers deserve a more human and more efficient network,” concluded the minister’s office.
‘Appalling’, say liberals
Liberal MP André Fortin described the situation as “shocking and appalling”. “I cannot conceive that this lady spent her last days like this, in Quebec. It’s just appalling and outrageous,” he said.
Mr. Fortin considers that it is up to the Minister of Health to take charge of the file and to “ensure that such a situation never happens again”.
Frequent horrors
Saying “wholeheartedly with the family”, the supportive MP Vincent Marissal recalled that this tragedy unfortunately recalls other situations that have recently occurred in Quebec, including what was revealed about the Lakeshore Hospital and the Fleury.
“The horror stories in our emergencies everywhere in Quebec are multiplying and the minister still has no plan to act in the short term,” he lamented.
“Stories of horror in the health system, we hear one then another,” said Conservative leader Éric Duhaime, on the sidelines of a press conference in front of parliamentary journalists.