The Vancouver Island Health Authority is investigating claims that a nearly blind, 79-year-old double amputee was struck in the face by a male nurse while he was seeking help at an Island hospital.
Emanuel Cooper says when he was admitted to Royal Jubilee Hospital, the nurse yelled at him and then struck him on Monday -- all because the nurse was frustrated Cooper had used a bedside buzzer to call for help.
"He came in screaming and I said, 'What the hell are you yelling about, it's your job, that's why they gave me the buzzer," Cooper told CTV News.
Cooper was recovering from an operation where his right leg was amputated. His left leg had been amputated years before.
At about 3:30 in the morning on Monday, Cooper used the buzzer because he needed help, he said. As the nurse was switching off the buzzer, Cooper claims he was struck in the face.
"I said, you hit me in the eye, you bastard," recalled Cooper.
The health authority is investigating, although the veteran nurse involved says there was no physical contact.
Both a medical exam and family photographs show no evidence of assault.
Cooper's daughter Joanne Cooper said that her father was still terrified.
"I came into feed him his lunch and he had asked me to do something, and I said, 'Ring your nurse,'" she told CTV.
"He said, 'No, I'll get into trouble.' I said, 'What do you mean,' and he said, 'I got punched last night,' and he turned and showed me his cheek," she said.
While authorities continue to investigate the allegations, the Cooper family isn't waiting around for answers. They have moved Cooper to another hospital.
"I'm very disgusted with the Royal Jubilee staff at the moment," said Joanne Cooper.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Jim Beatty
