News Release
August 19, 2008
Michel Samson, MLA
Richmond
LIBERALS PUSH PREMIER TO INTERVENE IN PLIGHT OF OUT-OF-PROVINCE DOUBLE LUNG PATIENT
(Halifax, NS) With Marilyn and Ken MacKay running out of time and money, Liberal MLA for Richmond Michel Samson is today urging the premier himself to intervene and assist the Cape Breton couple.
"The minister of health has had ample opportunity to develop a program to provide assistance to the MacKay family and others in similar situations," says Samson. "Implying that patients sell their homes and move to another part of the country is not a solution - it is an insult."
Marilyn MacKay has been living in Toronto for just over a year while she awaits a life-saving double lung transplant. She’s had to remain close to the hospital to be ready for surgery once an organ becomes available. All that remains of the couple’s life savings is enough money to cover funeral expenses.
Samson has recommended that Health Minister Chris d’Entremont adopt a program similar to one in Newfoundland and Labrador which provides funding to cover out-of-province living expenses for patients and airfare so spouses can visit.
"Newfoundland provided this program for out-of-province patients at a time when the province didn’t have the financial standing it enjoys today," explains Samson. "That government made transplant patients a priority and relieved pressure on what is already a stressful situation for families."
With only a small number of Nova Scotians awaiting lung transplants and other procedures outside of the province, Samson insists that the expense to government wouldn’t be significant.
"This is not cosmetic surgery - it’s a life-saving procedure for Marilyn," contends Samson. "The MacDonald government has casually spent millions of dollars on the Corpus Sanchez report and other healthcare studies, yet now they balk at helping Nova Scotians in dire need."
"Clearly, this government has a list of priorities and the MacKay family simply isn’t on it."
Aug 19, 2008
