An Ontario family is suing their local health authority, alleging that their 16-year-old son died of a treatable medical condition after waiting more than eight hours in a crowded ER.
The family of Finlay van der Werken say their son suffered a medical crisis in February 2024, but after rushing him to hospital, he waited more than eight hours in the ER at the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) before dying just over 24 hours later. The family say doctors later told them that earlier treatment might have prevented van der Werken’s death.
The lawsuit, filed Feb. 19, names Halton Healthcare Services Corporation, along with 13 other defendants including seven doctors, and is filed by five plaintiffs, including van der Werken’s parents. It alleges that van der Werken wasn’t properly treated or monitored and asks for $1.3 million in damages….