IQALUIT
Three months after former Health Minister Monica Ell promised an independent review into the administrative process of her department after a news report revealed troubling questions surrounding the death of three-month-old Makibi Akesuk Timilak in Cape Dorset, her replacement says it's going ahead.
The news follows a petition launched in late January by former Cape Dorset nurse Gwen Slade calling for the review to go forward and a Jan. 12 letter to current Health Minister Paul Okalik from Cape Dorset MLA David Joanasie in which he makes several pointed recommendations.
"The purpose of this review is to determine what steps were taken in the wake of Makibi's death and whether the steps taken were appropriate in the circumstances," Okalik informed the Nunavut legislature Feb. 24, the assembly's first day back to business.
"The review will also focus more generally on what procedures are currently in place within GN departments for receiving and responding to complaints regarding nursing care in Nunavut and whether they were followed in this case," Okalik said.
Makibi died April 5, 2012 of a treatable viral infection, according to a coroner's report.
The department has commissioned Yellowknife-based lawyer Katherine Peterson to conduct the independent external review into Makibi's death.
"Ms. Peterson is a long-time Northern lawyer based in Yellowknife. She brings an extensive and distinguished legal background in Northern affairs, as she has provided legal counsel for territorial and municipal governments," Okalik said.
Peterson's past experience includes acting as counsel for the Government of Nunavut and the City of Iqaluit, as well as representing former Northwest Territories premier Floyd Roland in a conflict of interest inquiry.
"This external review process will be transparent and open. Ms. Peterson will have access to all relevant documents in this case. She will have the opportunity to speak with the family in Cape Dorset, government officials, former employees and the Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The Department of Health will co-operate fully with requests made by Ms. Peterson," said Okalik.
Joanasie's recommendations are ordered under three main headings - process for external review, transparency of Government of Nunavut's action plan and raising nursing standards.
He states, "Nurses ... are the backbone of our health-care system and my concerns regarding the events in Cape Dorset should in no way be misconstrued as an attack on our territory's hard-working nurses or other health-care professionals."
However, he says it's essential that the review "consider appropriateness of current professional nursing standards in the territory, adequacy of current quality assurance practices, adequacy of current risk management practices, equitability of treatment of permanent and agency nurses, and adequacy of current pre-employment recruitment and screening practices for health-care professionals."
Joanasie also suggests a renewed working relationship between the Department of Health and the Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Documents made public in the wake of the news report about Makibi's death show a communication breakdown between the government and the nurses' association.
A statement to the press from the Department of Health released shortly after Okalik's statement to the assembly does note, "The review will focus on specific details of the case, including nursing practice and procedures, and steps taken following Makibi's death."
Peterson is expected to begin her review in late March. The terms of reference require an interim report by Oct. 31 and a final report by Nov. 30.
