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By Ian Gustafson
WARNING: This story contains graphic images.
Members of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) are searching for answers from the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) after a James Smith Cree Nation woman allegedly received what the FSIN described as “poor treatment” at the Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert.
In an address to media Wednesday afternoon in Saskatoon, Janette Sanderson, 53, said she went to the hospital emergency room on June 30 after breaking her ankle. She claims she was injected with a substance, the nurse told her it was potassium. The injection has led to severe burns on her body, she said.
Sanderson said as soon as she was injected with the substance, her arm began to hurt.
“I kept telling her, three times maybe more times but she didn’t stop,” Sanderson said. “Until all the potassium was all gone from that needle and I looked at my arm and my arm was already swelling up in pain. I (was) crying and the nurse just left the room without saying anything.
“I did not ask for potassium. Why did this happen? I want to know that nurse. I felt like as a human being she was being so mean.”
Sanderson said she wants to be heard and for people to understand her story so her situation doesn’t happen to anyone else.
On July 2, she was transferred to the Royal University Hospital after having a heart attack. She was released from the hospital on July 15 and claims she was told by a doctor her arm would heal itself.
After seeing her family doctor, she was told it was a potassium burn. Afterward, her family admitted her into hospital in Melfort from July 25 to 28 because of the unbearable pain. On July 28 she had successful surgery on the wound.
She claims she was told while in Melfort hospital it was a potassium burn but said they still don’t know what the substance was because the nurse at Victoria Hospital didn’t keep a record of it.
FSIN Vice Chief David Pratt provided a statement.
“This is just another example of the discriminatory practices that our people continue to face within the current health system,” Pratt said. “We’re calling for an investigation to find out what happened specifically to Janette to ensure that it never happens again to not only our First Nations people but to all the people in Saskatchewan.”
He added these incidents are unacceptable and expects nothing but the best health care when First Nations people go in for medical attention.
He is also calling on the federal government to support the FSIN in building an ombudsman office.
FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron also spoke on the matter, saying what Sanderson went through was torture.
“They tortured this poor lady to the point where she was bearing the pain 24/7 and we will do all we can as a federation legally, politically, technically to right the wrong and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Cameron said.
“This is part of the reason why the Prince Albert Grand Council has pushed and pressured for their own First Nation hospital so we can care for our own people with our own protocols and traditions.”
The SHA released a statement to paNOW on behalf of Andrew McLetchie, vice-president of Integrated Northern Health, stating their operational leaders are aware of the situation and have been in contact with the patient and the family. An investigation about the quality of care is ongoing.
“We are not able to provide any further details about a specific patient’s personal health information. As in any situation where there may have been concerns with the quality of care provided, the SHA starts a review process to determine what may have occurred,” the statement said.