March 23 Lamont Leader

6 - The Lamont Leader (Lamont, Alberta), Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Fort Hospital denies unmasked woman care “Its similar to a face BY JANA SEMENIUK A Fort Saskatchewan shield but it doesn’t woman, in need of med- cover your eyes and lets ical attention, was me breathe better,” said turned away from the Kyle. “I still don’t like Fort Saskatchewan them but it’s the best I Community Hospital can do.” When she returned to Emergency Room and refused medical services the hospital, not only was she again refused for not wearing a mask. Michelle Kyle, 40, was entry, but this time Kyle driven to the hospital by said she was threatened with security. her husband “She said it’s Adam at 7:30 the blue mask p.m. on or a face March 19 shield or she after experiwould have to encing severe call security,” abdominal she said. pain at home. With her “I’ve had pain increasstomach ing, Kyle and troubles after her husband eating certain drove to the things and Michelle Kyle Strathcona after eating home-made hamburgers Community Hospital in at home, the pain start- Sherwood Park where ed,” said Kyle. “When her half-face shield was the pain got unbearable, accepted by the nursing and doctors. I asked my husband to staff take me to the hospital. It Although the emergency felt like someone took a room was busy, Kyle said hot poker and was jab- she was seen by a doctor bing me in the stomach.” within a couple of hours, Once Kyle arrived at given pain medication, the hospital with her an anti-nauseant and fluhusband, a nurse at the ids by IV. Once her pain pre-screening station, was under control and seeing Kyle doubled her blood work seen, over in pain, immediate- Kyle was sent home with ly got a wheelchair for instructions on managher then offered her a ing her symptoms. “They didn’t fool face mask. Kyle explained to the nurse around,” she said. Kerry Williamson, that she suffers anxiety and cannot wear a face communications personmask. The nurse then nel for Alberta Health offered Kyle a face shield Services, confirmed by email that while masking which Kyle refused. “The shield feels like protocols are still in I’m in a coffin. She was place, AHS staff will telling me ‘What hap- work with patients to pens if you catch offer masking alternaCOVID?’ and I told her tives including escorting I’m in too much pain to a patient directly to an care about COVID,” she examining room if necessaid. “Besides I’ve sary. “No patient should be already had it.” Kyle said she and the denied care because they nurse continued to argue cannot or will not wear a until the nurse finally got mask,” said Williamson. “We apologize for a the triage nurse miscommunication in involved. “The triage nurse said, this specific case and ‘if she won’t wear a mask have apologized to the then she won’t be able to family. We have also come in,” said Kyle. “I reached out to the staff at Saskatchewan said are you seriously Fort denying me medical care Community Hospital to because I won’t wear a ensure they are aware of mask? The nurse told me the guidelines around she didn’t make the masking.” Kyle said that although rules.” Feeling desperate, Kyle she is glad administraand her husband went tors is addressing the home to retrieve a partial issue, she feels more face shield that rests on needs to be done. Continued on Page 15 the chin and returned to the hospital.

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