Winnipeg family identifies with Reid Bricker case, calls for healthcare changes
CBC News | Posted: October 31, 2015 7:17 PM | Last Updated: October 31, 2015
'I don’t know how many different ways we need to say it to somebody for anyone to listen'
In the wake of Reid Bricker's disappearance, a Winnipeg man is calling for changes to the Personal Health Information Act (PHIA), having struggled to help his sister for years.
Jason — who has asked to be identified only by his first name to protect his family's privacy — said his sister, Alison, has struggled with depression for around eight years and can't keep a job.
He and his wife paid for a small apartment for Alison for several months, he said, but when that was no longer an option, she ended up on the streets.
"She can't keep a job, can't live with other people," Jason said.
"It's progressively gotten worse."
It was a weekend morning when Alison walked to the park behind her mother's house and attempted to take her life, Jason said.
Jason's wife was nearby and was able to intervene. The family called 911 and she was taken to hospital, where Jason said she was released 20 minutes later.
"There's been some times she's released [from hospital] immediately," he said.
"The longest stay she's had was about one week."
Jason relies on Alison for information about her mental health because the health care professionals who treat her can't speak to him about it under PHIA.
"They're very vague because they say that they can't tell us anything because she doesn't want us to know whether she has any diagnoses," he said.
"The longest stay she's had was about one week."
Jason relies on Alison for information about her mental health because the health care professionals who treat her can't speak to him about it under PHIA.
"They're very vague because they say that they can't tell us anything because she doesn't want us to know whether she has any diagnoses," he said.
"It almost feels like they hide behind this privacy stuff. I don't know how many different ways we need to say it to somebody for anyone to listen."
But Murray Enns, medical director of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority's adult mental health program, said it's rare for patients to explicitly request that their families not be made privy to their health information, as Alison did.
But Murray Enns, medical director of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority's adult mental health program, said it's rare for patients to explicitly request that their families not be made privy to their health information, as Alison did.
"The majority of patients actually appreciate the involvement of their family and they welcome it," he said.
"When that is the case there is absolutely no reason why any health care provider can't go ahead and exchange information with the patient's family."
Enns told CBC News that each case is looked at individually and exceptions to the act are possible.
Enns told CBC News that each case is looked at individually and exceptions to the act are possible.
"When there seems to be an emergent situation that requires family input then that exception could be made," he said.
"It puts staff in a position where they feel imperilled because PHIA is fairly explicit in making statements about the protection of health information and competent adults have the right to restrict when that information is shared and when it isn't."
"It puts staff in a position where they feel imperilled because PHIA is fairly explicit in making statements about the protection of health information and competent adults have the right to restrict when that information is shared and when it isn't."