PC Health Critic repeats call for C. difficile investigation, says Ontarians deserve answers

(Queen’s Park – September 25, 2008) – Ontario Progressive Conservative Health Critic Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener-Waterloo) today said the McGuinty Liberals need to get the facts right and call an investigation into the deaths of more than 500 Ontarians from C. difficile.

“How can the public have confidence in this government to effectively deal with C. difficile when they don’t even have all the facts right?” asked Witmer. “Dalton McGuinty and his government have failed to tell Ontarians the truth. They don’t have all the information and they continue to stonewall us on the information they do have.”

In the Legislature, Witmer asked Minister of Health David Caplan to retract earlier statements he made as well as those made yesterday by Dalton McGuinty about information his government has regarding C. difficile outbreaks in Sault Ste. Marie and Burlington. A recently obtained Freedom of Information request shows that the McGuinty government has no reports or documentation from either C. difficile outbreak.

“The McGuinty government hasn’t learned from the investigations in Sault Ste. Marie or Burlington because they don’t even have the reports on these investigations,” said Witmer. “Yesterday, the Premier said that it was a Coroner’s jury that looked into C. difficile. That’s incorrect as well – there was no jury just like there was no report.”

Since 2004, at least 500 people have died from C. difficile at 27 of the province’s 157 hospitals. During her remarks, Witmer also repeated her call for the government to call an investigation into C. difficile.

“How many more excruciating, painful and undignified deaths in our hospitals will it take before this government calls an investigation to find out what happened, why and how widespread this is so that we can implement a coordinated plan to make sure this never happens again,” asked Witmer.

“This Minister, like his predecessor and the Premier continues to try and shield himself from taking responsibility when it comes to C. difficile,” said Witmer. “The Minister has a choice – he can either continue to try and hide the facts or he can do the right thing, show leadership and restore public confidence in our health system.”

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For more information:
Catherine Pringle
(416) 325-2202