Denied hospital care in the Fort

Fort Hospital denies unmasked woman care

BY JANA SEMENIUK

A Fort Saskatchewan woman, in need of medical attention, was turned away from the Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital Emergency Room and refused medical services for not wearing a mask.

Michelle Kyle, 40, was driven to the hospital by her husband Adam at 7:30 p.m. on March 19 after experiencing severe abdominal pain at home.

“I’ve had stomach troubles after eating certain things and after eating home-made hamburgers at home, the pain started,” said Kyle. “When the pain got unbearable, I asked my husband to take me to the hospital. It felt like someone took a hot poker and was jabbing me in the stomach.”

Once Kyle arrived at the hospital with her husband, a nurse at the pre-screening station, seeing Kyle doubled over in pain, immediately got a wheelchair for her then offered her a face mask. Kyle explained to the nurse that she suffers anxiety and cannot wear a face mask. The nurse then offered Kyle a face shield which Kyle refused.

“The shield feels like I’m in a coffin. She was telling me ‘What happens if you catch COVID?’ and I told her I’m in too much pain to care about COVID,” she said. “Besides I’ve already had it.”

Kyle said she and the nurse continued to argue until the nurse finally got the triage nurse involved.

“The triage nurse said, ‘if she won’t wear a mask then she won’t be able to come in,” said Kyle. “I said are you seriously denying me medical care because I won’t wear a mask? The nurse told me she didn’t make the rules.”

Feeling desperate, Kyle and her husband went home to retrieve a partial face shield that rests on the chin and returned to the hospital.

“Its similar to a face shield but it doesn’t cover your eyes and lets me breathe better,” said Kyle. “I still don’t like them but it’s the best I can do.” When she returned to the hospital, not only was she again refused entry, but this time Kyle said she was threatened with security. “She said it’s the blue mask or a face shield or she would have to call security,” she said. With her pain increasing, Kyle and her husband Michelle Kyle drove to the Strathcona Community Hospital in Sherwood Park where her half-face shield was accepted by the nursing staff and doctors. Although the emergency room was busy, Kyle said she was seen by a doctor within a couple of hours, given pain medication, an anti-nauseant and fluids by IV. Once her pain was under control and her blood work seen, Kyle was sent home with instructions on managing her symptoms. “They didn’t fool around,” she said. Kerry Williamson, communications personnel for Alberta Health Services, confirmed by email that while masking protocols are still in place, AHS staff will work with patients to offer masking alternatives including escorting a patient directly to an examining room if necessary. “No patient should be denied care because they cannot or will not wear a mask,” said Williamson. “We apologize for a miscommunication in this specific case and have apologized to the family. We have also reached out to the staff at Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital to ensure they are aware of the guidelines around masking.” Kyle said that although she is glad administrators is addressing the issue, she feels more needs to be done. Continued on Page 15

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