No parent wants to see their child in pain and its incomprehensible to think of holding one’s child down while someone else inflicts pain on them.
However, that is what one Okotoks father was asked to do as staff at the Okotoks Health and Wellness Centre cut the cast off his two-year-old son, Effrem.
Of course the nurses that day didn’t know themselves the boy was reacting to the second-degree burns searing into his arm as they sawed off his cast.
Rather than jumping to the conclusion he was scared of the saw, a little investigation could have been done to ensure everything was well.
As terrible as that scenario was it became worse as the staff reacted with shock when they realized the cast had not been applied properly, causing the burns as the cast was removed. However, medical staff at the centre didn’t do anything to treat the wounds, instead instructing the toddler’s traumatized father to clean them at home and apply Polysporin.
The family wasn’t told what would be done about the mistake until a subsequent visit to the Okotoks Health and Wellness Centre.
Effrem had a fever, likely due to an infection in the burns, and was given antibiotics. A staff member, who had heard Effrem screaming the day before when the cast was being cut off, said an investigation would be taking place.
Why hadn’t someone from Alberta Health Services called right away to tell the family action was being taken?
Later when Effrem’s aunt tried to get answers, she was told the doctor in charge was away and she would have to wait until the next week to get a response about what was happening to address the mistake regarding the cast.
In the meantime, Effrem again had to return to the Okotoks urgent care centre as his fever continued.
During the subsequent trip Effrem’s father was asked why the wounds weren’t bandaged. He said they were never advised to bandage the burns, which were by now becoming red around the edges.
Rather than bandage the wounds staff gave the dad bandages and advised him to wrap them up himself.
Within a few days of the incident the doctor who oversees the Okotoks Health and Wellness Centre did contact the family and apologized on behalf of the doctor who incorrectly applied the cast and said she would be re-trained on the procedure.
An apology for the mistake made while applying the cast is definitely a necessary step, but what about everything that followed?
The lack of care this boy received along the way, from injuries inflicted on him by health staff to not having the wounds treated, has been unacceptable.
Was staff rushed? Were they so shocked by what had happened they didn’t react appropriately? Why didn’t somebody clean and dress the wounds? Why did it take so long to get a response from the head physician?
The family has now been told they can file a complaint in with Alberta Health Services to request a further investigation.
Now totally frustrated, the father is instead talking about hiring a lawyer.
When the Western Wheel tried to obtain information about the incident we were told Alberta Health Services (AHS) cannot discuss specific cases and Effrem’s family could relay any conversations they had with health officials, if they wanted.
Why can’t doctors and health staff speak for themselves?
It makes sense to protect patient privacy, but when a family gives permission to release the information, AHS still refuses to talk, let alone let physicians, nurses and other health staff speak out.
This family deserves answers and Okotokians need to be assured they will receive better care at the urgent care centre than what little two-year-old Effrem received.
