Let's learn to care

As British Columbians, we are proud to say we live in a compassionate society. So it comes as shock to learn that our taxpayer-funded health system doesn't always act in a very caring way.

Barry Bordeniuk, 53, spent the last two weeks of his life in Kelowna General Hospital, then a further five days in the hospital's morgue before his family members were notified.

As Province reporter Katie Mercer notes, Bordeniuk, who died June 8 following treatment of cirrhosis of the liver, spent most of his life homeless in Abbotsford.

But he went home to Kelowna for his own father's funeral three years ago. And his family put him in a local nursing home, from where he was admitted to hospital May 26 -- without relatives knowing.

It is a tragic story of miscommunication. But let's hope everyone involved in it learns from it in some way.



The Province
Published: Tuesday, August 12, 2008