While our investigations of complaints are conducted confidentially, every year we select a number of cases for publication in our annual report. These case summaries (with names changed or abbreviated to protect confidentiality) are meant to illustrate the variety of work the Ombudsperson’s office does, and the kinds of resolutions we can often achieve.
Below you will find a selection of those summaries, taken from our past annual reports.
Health
Man’s appearance causes problem in psychiatric ward
Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission
A man contacted us to complain that the Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission (FPSC) had told him to change the way he dresses. Mr. J said he was told by FPSC staff not to wear his black clothing, skull bandana, iron cross necklace and black Goth makeup....more
Patient involuntarily committed under mental health laws
Royal Columbian Hospital
Although we do not have the authority to investigate the actions of doctors, we can investigate administrative decisions by officials in hospitals and other medical facilities. In one situation a woman contacted us to complain that she had not been fairly treated in hospital when she was involuntarily committed under the Mental Health Act....more
Uninsured man charged high medical fees
Providence Health Care
We received a complaint from a man who was shocked to find out how much he had to pay to visit a doctor in an emergency room so that he could get a prescription for urgently required medication....
Collector looking for unpaid medical premiums
Medical Services Plan
This office regularly receives inquiries and complaints concerning medical coverage and Medical Services Plan premium assistance for people with low incomes. In this fairly common example, Mr. R contacted us to complain that he was being pressured to pay overdue medical premiums....more
Problems with medical plan billing
Medical Services Plan
In this example of never-ending paper trails, Mr. A told us that Medical Services Plan (MSP) was threatening to collect unpaid medical premiums covering a number of years. He also told us he had been having difficulties getting an application for premium assistance and that his letters to MSP about this problem had gone unanswered....more
Father intervenes in son’s medical billing dilemma
Health Insurance British Columbia
A man contacted us to complain that Health Insurance British Columbia (HIBC) was not managing his son’s medical coverage properly and that he had to intervene on his son’s behalf because HIBC was not treating his son respectfully....more
No medical coverage without application for permanent residency
Health Insurance British Columbia
We investigated a complaint by a woman that Health Insurance British Columbia (HIBC) refused to approve medical coverage for her because she was not a legal resident of Canada. She said that due to a recent diagnosis of cancer she was in need of medical coverage....
Ambulance billing freezes income tax refund
Ministry of Health
A man came to us with a complaint that he had been unfairly billed by the Ministry of Health for ambulance transportation and that his income tax refund had been seized by the Ministry in order to force him to pay the bill....more
Man wants list of doctors prescribing medication
College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC
Although we may not always be able to provide a complainant with the result they are looking for, we can provide a valuable service in those situations by helping to explain the reasons behind decisions or actions they may not agree with. For example, Mr. U came to us with a complaint that the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC refused to provide him with a list of doctors in the Lower Mainland that could prescribe him methadone for medical purposes....more
Lack of adequate reasons for decision
College of Dental Surgeons
Mr. C. complained to the College of Dental Surgeons that a dental student acting under the supervision of a dentist had performed a root canal on Mr. C without his knowledge or consent. Mr. C believed that the dental treatment he received was substandard and he made other related complaints to the College....more
Residency requirements waived for long-term care patient
Vancouver Island Health Authority
Mr K complained about the residency requirements of the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) for obtaining subsidized placement of his 93-year-old mother in a long-term care facility....more
New MSP customer’s cards sent twice to wrong address
Medical Services Plan
In August 2003, he had submitted an application to MSP after moving to BC and was told he would be enrolled after a three-month waiting period. When he had not received his cards by Christmas, he
contacted MSP and was advised his application had not been received....more
Health Authority Resolves Concern about Inadequate Homesupport Services
Health Authority
An elderly woman, Ms C, complained that her local health authority failed to provide her with adequate home-support services. She said that her husband was recently placed in a care facility, but she remained at home with a number of different medical problems that made it increasingly difficult for her to cope on her own....more