'We need to see miscarriage as an emotional emergency', says nurse
CBC Radio | Posted: April 7, 2016 11:59 AM | Last Updated: April 7, 2016
When Winnie Mou, of Markham, Ont., suffered a miscarriage in 2013, it wasn't just a physically harrowing experience. She fell into a severe and disabling depression. So bad, in fact, she was fired from her job.
- Policy on Pregnancy & Human Rights in the Workplace - Canadian Human Rights Commission
But after taking her case to the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, it seems Winnie Mou's lost pregnancy, and all the emotional distress that followed, could create a significant precedent in Canada's most populous province.
In March 2016, the Tribunal recognized her miscarriage as a disability.
It's final ruling on the case isn't in yet, but this interim decision has many women's health advocates hopeful that a long-taboo subject could be getting the recognition and status it deserves.
Today The Current looks at the implications for the workplace and for health care and highlight the emotional distress that is often not treated.
Guests in this segment:
- Christine Thomlinson, employment lawyer and the co-managing partner of Rubin Thomlinson LLP.
- Andrea Paras suffered a miscarriage in January and shared her health care experience.
- Wendy Moulsdale, nurse practitioner at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in the neonatal intensive care unit. She's also the education lead with the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Network.
We requested an interview with Ms. Mou's lawyer but she declined.
Should miscarriage be considered a disability?
This segment was produced by The Current's Liz Hoath and Willow Smith.