The family of a Kawacatoose First Nations Elder is claiming he was racially discriminated against and abused recently by health staff at Regina General Hospital.
Thomas Favel was in hospital in late September for dialysis treatment for renal failure, and complications associated with pneumonia.
Favel said he was denied access to his preferred doctor for dialysis, forced to see another doctor due to a policy change at the hospital. “They were infringing on my Treaty Rights. I have the right to choose what doctor I want. I don’t think the hospital has the right to choose my doctor,” Favel explained.
Favel recounted the mistreatment would continue. On or around Sept. 30 Favel alleges he was slammed into his bed by nurses and forcefully restrained. “I went to sleep when I went into a deep sleep. But all my life, I had been a light sleeper. All of a sudden, I felt somebody grabbing me on my arm and joining me on my feet and grabbing me and pushing me towards the door,” he said. “And there was a nurse, she grabbed me and pushed me back towards the bed. And the person from the back grabbed me. She pushed me back and this guy didn’t see, grabbed me and slammed me onto the bed. And that’s where I’ve got bruises on my back. And the second time he grabbed me and slammed me onto the bed and jumped on top of me and held me down.”
The family and Favel claimed they received contradictory explanations for the restraint, either for being delirious or for trying to flee from the hospital.
Favel’s daughter, Ann Ewenin, showed pictures of bruising allegedly from the restraining. “We took him home with his infection and I cared for him. My mother cared for him. My daughters cared for him my son’s we have no medical background, but he was safer with us than he was in that hospital. And this has to change. Hospitals for First Nation people have to change because we matter,” Ewenin said.
Ewenin alleges her Father’s hospital room was not cleaned during his treatment, as there was garbage on the floor. She claims that staff made jokes of First Nations people waiting for dialysis by suggesting those waiting are conducting a powwow or a Chief and Council meeting.
Ewenin said her mother was accused of stealing a drink of tea, which Favel drank in his hospital room. Ewenin defended her mother and against the alleged mistreatment of her father.
“This is a human rights case. It’s a racial discrimination case. And it’s a medical malpractice case. For those nurses who haven’t been named, you’re gonna get named we’re going to find out. We’re going to get to the bottom of this,” said Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Chief Bobby Cameron. “What a disgrace that hospital is and staff. What an embarrassment, they should resign. And if they don’t resign, we’re gonna call for their termination. They [Favel family] want to seek legal action. And we’re gonna support them the whole way.” The family has requested that Regina Police investigate the abuse and to possibly lay charges.
Favel is still traveling to Regina General Hospital three-days a week for dialysis. However, the family said he is in fear of the hospital. They are seeking to have his care transferred to All Nations’ Healing Hospital in Fort Qu’Appelle.
“We are very sorry to hear about the concerns being raised by this family, and are working to ensure that conversations with family and their supports, formal safety event processes and appropriate medical investigations are completed,” said Jocelyn Argue, with the Sask Health Authority. “While we cannot comment further on this particular situation due to privacy, we do take very seriously concerns like these. SHA is co-operating with the Regina Police Services investigation.”
(Photo of Regina General Hospital courtesy of the Sask. Health Authority.)