Gilbert Plains man sues health-care providers, arguing delays in diagnosis, care led to wife’s death – CBC

Woman, 78, had perforated bowel that went undetected for 12 hours despite complaints of pain, lawsuit alleges

Jun 26, 2023

A Gilbert Plains man is suing Manitoba’s health system and first responders, as he says his 78-year-old wife’s perforated bowel wasn’t caught in a timely manner, leading to her eventual death two years ago.

Donald Wiwcharuk, executor of his late wife’s estate, is seeking damages under the Fatal Accidents Act after his wife Elizabeth (“Liz”) Wiwcharuk died of cardiogenic shock and sepsis — which would not have happened if not for her health-care providers’ negligence, according to a statement of claim filed in Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench on June 16.

He alleges his wife did not receive the “life-saving medical intervention” she required in a timely way, thanks to a lengthy ambulance wait time and the hospital’s “failure to identify or treat the cause of Liz’s worsening symptoms.”

Donald launched the lawsuit against the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Shared Health, Health Sciences Centre and Winnipeg and Fire Paramedic Services. He lives in Gilbert Plains, which is about 275 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg.

Gilbert Plains man sues health-care providers, arguing delays in diagnosis, care led to wife’s death – CBC

NationTalk Partners & Sponsors Learn More