/R E P E A T -- Invitation to all journalists - Deaths at West Island Manor
seniors' residence : what a family, and the AQDR, have to say/

Press Conference
Tuesday, October 26, 11 a.m.
Centre St-Pierre
1212 Panet, Montréal, Room 303

MONTREAL, Oct. 22 /CNW Telbec/ - Shocking findings by the Québec Ombusdman.

Willard Wilson, 94 year old war veteran, died following accidental scalding at the West Island Manor in Pierrefonds.  He was the second person to die subsequent to burns at this private seniors' residence. 83% of the beds at this residence are used by the Agence de santé de Montréal.

Some of the Ombudsman's revelations regarding the West Island Manor:

"Several of our requests for telephone discussions were ignored, and certain documents were not forwarded to us, despite several requests."

"Despite requests for follow-up made by the Agence and the Ombudsman that the establishment take measures following the second death, and recommendations by the coroner following the first death, the West Island Manor only installed new water temperature-regulating equipment on November 30, 2009, six months after the second death"

Regarding the actions of the Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal:

"August 10, 2009, the establishment sent the Agence a simple letter saying the required changes had been made.  The Agence did not demand any invoice or detailed report proving purchase of new equipment, or proving that the work had been done by qualified professionals.  The Agence did not carry out any site visit or inspection to verify the establishment's assertions."

"The Agence was not informed of the first death (that of June 2007) until two years after this death.  It was in the process of follow-up on work the coroner recommended following the June 2007 death, that the Agence discovered by chance that a second death had occurred (in January of 2009)."

The family of Mr. Willard Wilson (the second West Island Manor death, in January 2009) will reveal what action they intend to take, in regards to the West Island Manor and the Agence, at a press conference on October 26.  The AQDR will announce the measures they will take, in the face of these cruel and preventable deaths.

For further information:

For more info, call AQDR (Association québécoise de défense des droits des retraités)
Louis Plamondon, president  Cell:  514-713-7373
Claude Major, director  514-935-1551