Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to use my Member’s statement to talk about the Medical Travel Policy in relation to people requiring transplants. As I’ve raised on a number of occasions, there needs to be a clearly defined policy with a specific aim to assistance for people who go through the medical transplant process. We need a policy that takes into consideration the real and much needed support of family members who should be there through this difficult time.
I want to now paint a picture of how disappointing the present Medical Travel Policy is and, in my view, how it is very insensitive at the least. Imagine you or a family member or friend, or even just someone you know, who has a two-year old son whose heart was removed just three short weeks ago. As in this case, those three short weeks ago that child’s mother has been relentlessly sitting by the side of that child every waking moment, leaving only to get minimal sleep; assuming that your body will allow you to get any sleep throughout this ordeal. Now imagine, because of our Medical Travel Policy, you have to leave the remainder of your support, your loved ones, back home here in the North.
What is this story about? Such as this case, a husband, another son who is six, and a daughter who is four are left behind to cope. Imagine what it must be like being alone in a hospital with your two-year-old child with no heart waiting for a transplant while the other parent is left home tending to your other children, as in this story I am attempting to illustrate.
The present territorial Medical Travel Policy, our Medical Travel Policy, the Medical Travel Policy overseen by the Health Minister, does not contemplate this challenge of having one parent only sent out for what is a truly unknown amount of time without any visits from their immediate family, that father, the six-year-old older brother, or even the four-year-older sister.
Our present Medical Travel Policy does not contemplate the challenge of burn out by the parent at the hospital and, therefore, does not consider respite of any kind. I ask: does this mother not deserve a break? Does this mother not need the direct support of her family? Does this child in the hospital not need to see his older brother or sister for strength to fight on? I think so. For this mother to receive a much needed break, as the present policy dictates, she would have to leave on her own accord and leave her son unattended, which is certainly not right.
Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement?
---Unanimous consent granted.
So why are we not a territory of compassion that takes circumstances and fairly weighs them with the empathy and understanding that needs to be taken into consideration?
So to close my statement with one final matter that needs to be put into perspective -- and most certainly, God forbid, that this day ever does come -- however, if that dark day and disappointing moment had to come where this child, a two-year-old smiling and wonderful little boy named Jonas, had to have his machines turned off, our Medical Travel Policy wouldn’t unite this family one last time. It would leave that mother alone in the room as the machines went silent; it would leave the father here in Yellowknife pacing hopelessly and helplessly; and leave the other two children scarred without being able to say goodbye as their little brother took his final breath. Mr. Speaker, this two-year-old boy needs the support that we can give, and I certainly believe our government can do better. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
