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Family claims man dies in U.S. after no hospital beds available
Myrna Driedger looks on while Cheryl Huska speaks over a photo of her 21-year-old son, Rodmond. (TREVOR.HAGAN@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)
WINNIPEG — A Winnipeg man who took ill and died while on holidays in the United States spent his final days in a Colorado hospital because there were no beds available for him back home, his family says.
Cheryl Huska told reporters today that she was the only family member by her 21-year-old son Rodmond's bedside when he died June 24.
She said her insurance company attempted to have Rodmond moved during a two-day period in June, while his condition was stable, but was unable to find room for him in a Winnipeg hospital.
"I just wanted him home. Even if the outcome would have been the same, he deserved to come home (to be around family and friends)," she said at a press conference organized by Tory health critic Myrna Driedger.
Rodmond was born with spina bifida and had lifelong health problems but was healthy when he travelled to the States to celebrate his 21st birthday in Las Vegas with his mom and dad, Cheryl Huska said.
On the way home, their connecting flight in Denver was delayed. And then Rodmond took ill with what proved to be a fatal infection.
Driedger said the incident raises questions about Manitoba's hospital bed capacity and how prepared the province is for a potential fall flu pandamic.
"Ultimately, the question is, 'Are we so full in our hospitals that we can't accept one more patient?'" Driedger said.
"And if that's the case what in the world are we going to be doing come the fall when there's an increase in flu's. It creates a frightening scenario," the Charleswood MLA said.
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