‘Explain to us:’ Family, supporters want answers after baby’s injury

A mom is looking for answers after learning her seven-month-old baby had been put in a cast for a broken right femur.

Teelah Soosay’s baby, Tobias, has been a patient at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon since he was born prematurely in September.

Soosay went to visit her son last week. On April 4, she found Tobias happy and doing well. A few days later, however, Soosay said she was shocked to find his entire right leg covered in a cast.

Tobias’ right femur is broken, but the Soosay family said they don’t know how that happened. They have been trying to get an answer from the hospital, but said they have not received one yet.

Kelly Wuttunee, legal counsel for the Soosay family, addresses media at the Saskatoon in on April 13, 2022. (Libby Giesbrecht/650 CKOM)

Their lawyer, Kelly Wuttunee, said the incident is concerning because in the past, Indigenous people have not always received the appropriate standard of care.

“The expected standard of care of the hospital is that the patient will be properly cared for and the services provided will help the patient,” Wuttunee said, adding physicians are supposed to act in such a way to avoid things that could be reasonably foreseen to injure a patient.

Wuttunee said they do not feel this was how Tobias was treated. As a result, they are calling on the provincial and federal governments to enforce the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action 18 to 24, and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls to Justice 3.1 to 3.7.

Wuttunee said these are important because they identify the gap in health-care services Indigenous people face in Canada and express a commitment to improving that care.

Calling them “systemic” issues, Wuttunee said there is a need for immediate action, especially when a vulnerable Indigenous seven-month-old boy is injured.

“The health system failed this Indigenous infant boy and we need to protect our most vulnerable,” she said.

Chief Tanya Aguilar-Antiman from the Mosquito First Nation said many people in her community are upset with what has happened.

“Explain to us how a seven-month old baby can break their femur bone,” Aguilar-Antiman said.

She expressed a need for parents to be sure their children can be safe when in medical care.

In response to the situation, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) said in an email it can’t provide any information due to patient privacy concerns.

“We are very sorry to hear about the concerns being raised by this family, and are working to ensure conversations with family and their supports, formal safety event processes and appropriate medical investigations are completed,” the email said.

The SHA said it takes “all concerns from patients and their family members very seriously” and anyone with concerns is encouraged to contact their quality of care co-ordinators.

“We understand that some First Nations and Métis people do not feel comfortable accessing care or bringing up complaints they may have about their health-care experience,” the statement reads.

“We are committed to improving the health-care experience of our First Nations and Métis patients, clients and residents, and we have publicly committed to creating concrete and sustainable actions for change through our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.”

The SHA said reviews of cases like the issue being raised by the Soosays can include mediation like case conferences and an SHA patient safety incident.

Soosay said her boy is a “happy baby” and she was scared when she picked him up to find his entire right leg in a cast.

Tobias is still in the care of the hospital. The Soosay family said the SHA has not yet reached out to them.