Changes are coming to how patients are informed and consent to medical procedures, following an allegation of coerced or forced tubal ligation on a Nakoda woman at the Moose Jaw Hospital.
The incident was alleged to happen in December to the woman set to give birth to her third child.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority is undertaking the changes.
“To make sure that it is full and informed consent. So that there are supports in place for the person so they feel they’ve been informed and they’ve made and willfully given consent,” said Health Minister Jim Reiter.
“It needs to be something everybody’s comfortable with. And then it needs to be put in place. They need to enforce it make sure it’s always followed.”
Alisa Lombard the lawyer for the woman said her client was pressured into tubal ligation, moments prior to a cesarean section for the birth of her third child.
“D.D.S. noticed that a tubal ligation was also listed on the consent form at that time, which the doctor had not mentioned. He remained in her private space the entire time waiting for her to sign,” said Lombard. “She believed she had no choice but to sign. She knew nothing of the risks, nothing of the consequences and nothing of the other birth control options available to her, because the doctor never disclosed them.”
This latest allegation is part of a class action lawsuit, which Reiter said he could not speak too, but assured that consent changes within the SHA were on the horizon and that this is a very serious situation.
A spokesperson for the SHA said given, the privacy issues of the investigation, it is unlikely information of the investigation will be shared with the public.
Reiter said he has not spoken with the SHA regarding the investigation.
(Photo: Moose Jaw hospital.)