Overdose at the Occupation: “You can’t pick hospitals!”

Many know that I have been occupied at occupyvancouver for almost a month. Last week at the encampment there was a drug overdose by a young man (Tyler). The night before his overdose he was turned away from St. Pauls Hospital, that night he self medicated (drug or alcohol unknown). Tyler is American and has a prosthetic leg which apprently was infected and thus was in severe pain. The next Morning on Thursday November 4th, he was unconscious. He was resucitated by Mathew Kagis an onsite medic and brought to St. Pauls Hospital where 3 hours later he was discharged and astonshingly back on site at the Occupation.

The next day Friday, he was onsite again, relapsed and was in the medic tent for observation. He was slipping in and out of consciousness and I was asked to bring him in my Van to another hospital VGH. The patient, Tyler and his girlfriend lay in the back area of the van, he was slipping in an out of consciousness while his girlfriend talked to him in his arms, slapping his face to keep him awake. It took about 10 minutes to get to the hospital.

When greeted at VGH, the admissions staff said “you can’t pick hospitals” we had told him that he was denied care from St. Pauls. VGH was reluctant to admit him and said it would take 4-6 hours. Leah P, the medic who accompanied him and his girlfriend were livid at his treatment and strongly advocated for his care. Eventually he was admitted, got physical care and got into Detox.

He has been subsequently released from Detox and is now back onsite at occupyvancouver because he has nowhere else to go.

However I believe he is on his way back to the US, the story continues.

Many know that I have been occupied at occupyvancouver for almost a month. Last week at the encampment there was a drug overdose by a young man (Tyler). The night before his overdose he was turned away from St. Pauls Hospital, that night he self medicated (drug or alcohol unknown). Tyler is American and has a prosthetic leg which apprently was infected and thus was in severe pain. The next Morning on Thursday November 4th, he was unconscious. He was resucitated by Mathew Kagis an onsite medic and brought to St. Pauls Hospital where 3 hours later he was discharged and astonshingly back on site at the Occupation.

The next day Friday, he was onsite again, relapsed and was in the medic tent for observation. He was slipping in and out of consciousness and I was asked to bring him to another hospital VGH. The patient, Tyler and his girlfriend lay in the back area of the van, he was slipping in an out of consciousness while his girlfriend talked to him to keep him awake.

When greeted at VGH the admissions staff said “you can’t pick hospitals” we had told him that he was denied care from St. Pauls. VGH was reluctant to admit him and said it would take 4-6 hours. Leah P, the medic who accompanied him and his girlfriend were livid at his treatment and strongly advocated for his care. Eventually he was admitted, got physical care and got into Detox.

He has been subsequently released from Detox and is now back onsite at occupyvancouver because he has nowhere else to go. However, I believe he is on his way back to the US. They story continues…

Media coverage

http://www.theprovince.com/news/vancouver/Occupy+Vancouver+overdose+victim+detox/5671355/story.html