October 18, 2005
AN OPEN LETTER TO
Premier Ralph Klein
Dear Premier:
I am writing to you today in order to let you know about what we would call the wrongful death of my mother Jean Warden of Edmonton.
Due to a fall, she spent approximately 3 weeks in the hospital. On March 24th, 2005 Mom was discharged from a major Edmonton hospital into a local long term care facility.
On August 10th my sister and I, attended a "care conference" regarding my mother at the request of the care center. What was the care they wanted to discuss with us? It was a continual assault to have us sign a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order, which would have caused me to breach my fiduciary responsibility, going against the personal directive section of her will. To our surprise there were NO suggestions of care for my Mom. We did share our care concerns with them, including rapid weight loss, lack of assistance to drink and increasing lethargic, listless demeanor. In addition, we felt she had not received basic ear care. None of this was ever followed up on by this "fine" care center.
On September 11th my wife and I visited Mom. She had a bandaged foot. When I queried the staff as to why, they all ran around searching for information. No one knew anything about it! Finally, they told us that they had located information which told them it was a bed sore. The next day, my sister and I unwrapped the bandage ourselves to see the sore. What did we find? A gangrenous toe! Although the care centre suggested we wait 2 or 3 days to see the facility’s doctor, my sister and I had her transported to one of the city’s finest hospitals. The hospital debated whether Mom could even keep her toe or if it needed to be removed.
Members of the medical team at this hospital told us Mom was suffering from extreme dehydration, extreme malnutrition, and severe infection in her toe and elsewhere. This condition was so bad that by law they were required to submit a report to your government under the Persons In Protective Custody Act. This complaint and others are currently in the hands of Iris Evens office under investigation.
Mr. Premier, my Mom died in hospital on September 23rd from these conditions, as told to me by that same hospital team.
With her death seemingly stemming from neglect in the nursing home, and in light of the medical team launching an investigation into her care, why then as of this date has there not been a wrongful death investigation by your government? So far the only answer I receive from government & hospital staff is "I don’t know." If the circumstances were the same with a child who died while under the care of a government financed institution, I believe things would be different. Please… don’t tell me there is no wrongful death investigation because she was old!
By they way Sir, the items described here only scratch the surface. For more information, documents and pictures feel free to visit Moms web site: www.jeanwarden.com
Thank you,
Rob Warden
Edmonton
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