Home / Health / Indigenous Man's Death After Surgery Sparks Health System Review
Indigenous Man's Death After Surgery Sparks Health System Review
11 Dec
Summary
- Man died 19 days after routine gallstone surgery at Victoria General Hospital.
- Wife alleges husband received inadequate care and delayed pain medication.
- Island Health promises a review following family's demands for answers.
Leonard Sylvester, a 38-year-old member of the Penelakut First Nation, died on November 20th, just 19 days after undergoing routine day surgery for gallstones. His wife, Boedaya Sylvester, asserts that her husband should not have died and is demanding accountability from Island Health, which has committed to reviewing the incident.
Sylvester recounts instances of her husband experiencing extreme pain and being left unattended in a hallway at Cowichan District Hospital, with minimal pain relief. She further expressed distress over a lack of communication from the hospital regarding his condition and eventual transfer to intensive care at Victoria General Hospital.
Following Leonard's death, the family faced difficulties obtaining information about his body and the autopsy process. They also question why an Indigenous Liaison Nurse was not available until after his passing. Island Health officials have offered apologies and pledged a comprehensive review, incorporating the family's input, to improve healthcare access and address systemic issues.
