'I'm so broken': Grieving family speaks out after B.C. cancer patient awaiting treatment chooses MAID
Kathleen Carmichael says B.C.’s health-care system let her family down. Her partner, Dan Quayle, opted for a medically assisted death 13 days ago.
It was a choice he made after waiting for chemotherapy and treatment that didn’t come fast enough.
"The oncologist would come in and say, 'We’re pretty backlogged right now so hang in there,” said Carmichael Tuesday from her home near Victoria.
But Quayle ran out of time. The 52-year-old grandfather – described as jolly, big-hearted and playful – died on Nov. 24.
Quayle was diagnosed with esophageal cancer months after first feeling ill.
While he waited for treatment, his health declined, which led him to choose MAID. The decision was excruciating for his family, including Shayleen Griffiths, his stepdaughter.
"(It's) heartbreaking for my mum, for his kids, my kids — it’s devastating,” she said Tuesday from her Campbell River home. “And I know this isn't the only story, so it just feels heavy for everyone.”
The family is speaking out, not to be critical of any one doctor, but of the system — hoping others won’t have to endure what they’ve had to go through.
“I’m so broken,” said Carmichael through tears, as she held a card with condolences.
The family’s pain emerges as numbers reported on radiation therapy reveal that only 75 per cent of patients in B.C. are receiving it within the recommended 28-day benchmark — lower than the 77 per cent in May when the province started sending patients to the U.S. for radiation due to long waits in B.C.
“I’ve directed the health minister to work with the cancer agency to address wait times that are unacceptable for British Columbians," Premier David Eby said when CTV News asked about the delays Tuesday.
The province has hired 61 oncologists and 27 radiation therapists since April. The health minister says those waiting longer than the benchmarks for radiation are being prioritized.
“Those numbers — the people waiting 28 days are going to fall — because there are fewer people now on the waitlist,” said Dix Tuesday.
It was chemotherapy that Dan Quayle was told would extend his life. Wait times for that treatment haven't been released by the province yet.
Those affected most by waits for chemotherapy don’t need stats, however, to gauge the impact of delays.
“It always just felt like we were waiting, and waiting, and waiting. And I think early detection could have given my Dan some more time,” said an emotional Carmichael.
Instead of looking forward to that time, Quayle's grieving loved ones are looking back, remembering a beloved family man.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India trashes Canada for linking home minister to Sikh activist plot
India officially protested on Saturday the Canadian government's allegation that the country's powerful home minister Amit Shah had ordered the targeting of Sikh activists inside Canada, calling it 'absurd and baseless.'
The impact of Trump's lies in Springfield, Ohio
Springfield, Ohio was once a manufacturing hub. Now, people know it for Trump's comments at September's presidential debate, when he famously - and falsely - told an audience of 67 million people that Haitians eat their pets, echoing claims that had circulated on social media.
Iran's supreme leader threatens Israel, U.S. with 'a crushing response' over Israeli attack
Iran's supreme leader on Saturday threatened Israel and the U.S. with 'a crushing response' over attacks on Iran and its allies.
Vancouver quietly proclaimed Chip Wilson Day as billionaire installed sign calling B.C. NDP 'communist'
On the same day Chip Wilson erected a controversial sign at his Vancouver mansion, the city was quietly honouring the billionaire and his wife.
'Election seems really close': Americans in Canada cast ballot ahead of U.S. election
Stephen Winters says watching the U.S. election campaign from Canada as a dual citizen is like a parent watching their kid play sports.
Spain to send 10,000 soldiers, police to Valencia after deadly floods
Spain is sending 5,000 more soldiers and 5,000 more police to the eastern region of Valencia after deadly floods this week that killed more than 200 people, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced Saturday.
Jury convicts former Kentucky officer of using excessive force on Breonna Taylor during deadly raid
A federal jury on Friday convicted a former Kentucky police detective of using excessive force on Breonna Taylor during a botched 2020 drug raid that left her dead.
Orphaned squirrel who became social media star was euthanized after being seized from New York home
An orphaned squirrel that became a social media star called Peanut was euthanized after state authorities seized the beloved pet during a raid on his caretaker's home, authorities said Friday.
Ont. woman posed as registered nurse in Simcoe County for 4 years: OPP
An Ontario woman is facing serious charges after police allege she pretended to be a registered nurse at several Simcoe County facilities, despite being unqualified.