Former nurse wants 'board of inquiry'
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, March 2, 2015
NUNAVUT
A registered nurse who once worked at the Cape Dorset Heath Centre, and made a complaint against the nurse who was at the centre of the controversy surrounding the death of an infant, is not pleased with Health Minister Paul Okalik's appointment of a lawyer to undertake a review.
"Initially I felt a few moments of joy as I heard of the GN news release announcing there would be an inquiry," stated Gwen Slade from her home in Ontario. "Unfortunately, as I started to read the announcement, a profound sadness displaced the momentary joy."
Three-month-old Makibi Akesuk Timilak died April 5, 2012, seven hours after his mother called the health centre and spoke to registered nurse Debbie McKeown, who refused to see the infant. An autopsy revealed the infant died from a treatable viral lung infection. In May 2014, McKeown had her licence suspended by the Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
"This government is scrambling to protect itself from accountability," Slade stated. "This announcement is both confusing and contradictory. This announcement speaks to only half of an investigation."
She also suggests that the result of the review will protect the government and serve to revictimize the victim because a lawyer who has worked for the GN rather than "a board of inquiry of experienced persons unknown to the GN, with no restrictions (and) prohibitions" will be conducting the review.
"Okalik has orchestrated an investigation that prejudicially favours the wrongdoers," Slade stated.
