Ambulance carrying heart-attack patient delayed at U.S. border

[GliderGuider]

Source: CBC

Ambulance carrying heart-attack patient delayed at U.S. border
Incident was 10th border delay in 2 years involving patients from Windsor to Detroit
Monday, November 19, 2007
CBC News


Federal and provincial officials are calling for a review of border procedures after an ambulance rushing an Ontario heart attack patient to a U.S. hospital was held up at the border.

'I don't think it was right, and I'm really angry that someone would even think to pull in an ambulance where someone is dying in the back.'
—Kat Lauzon, the patient's girlfriendIt was the 10th border delay in two years involving patients being transferred from Windsor to Detroit, according to the CBC's Susan Pedler.

In the latest incident, Rick Laporte was en route from Windsor to a Detroit hospital for an emergency angioplasty on Friday when U.S. customs officials flagged the vehicle for a secondary inspection despite having a police escort and a pre-clearance arrangement.

Pedler reported that, under a deal hammered out in 2005, Windsor is the only border point between Canada and the U.S. that allows patients to be pre-cleared ahead of border crossings with a fax for medical emergencies.

Such an arrangement was made in Laporte's case.


Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/11/19/windsor-hospital.html

---

I knew it was a sad day when we could no longer boast about having the world's longest undefended border.

There was another story last week about firefighters from Canada called to a border town to and stopped.

From the bottom of the article:
"On Nov. 11, six volunteer firefighters from Lacolle, Que., were called to help fight a fire at a historic hotel called Anchorage Inn in Rouses Point, N.Y.

A U.S. border guard held them up for several minutes while he checked their identification.

By the time the firefighters reached the hotel, the building had burned to the ground."

A$$holes. (The dollar signs are intentional and à propos.)

[rodeodance]

1. I think this is an example of Richardson was referrring to when he said

security does not have to trump rights/freedoms.

[DumpDavisHogg]

2. Why go from Windsor to Detroit for health care?

If the wait at the border didn't kill the guy, the U.S. health care system probably came close to doing so.

Everyone I know who's lived in Detroit in recent years goes to Windsor for any medical situation (including emergencies) - never the other way around.

[robinlynne]

3. That was my first thought. Why would anyone want to cross a border in an emergency situation?

[Solon]

10. To go to the closest major medical center?

Just thought I'd put that out there, its not like the national border makes American hospitals magically exist further away than Canadian ones.

[Harper_is_Bush]

16. Windsor is not a huge center, and this procedure is not performed on an emergency basis there.

It is performed by appointment only. It's really not far to go, and if the border agents had their shit together it wouldn't be an issue.

[progressoid]

4. Look for this to be an argument against Moore's movie 'Sicko' on Hannity, Rush et al

"See!! Heathcare in Canada sucks, so they had to come here where it's perfect"

[paramedicRN]

5. nobody said it was

Windsor is not unlike any smaller community in Canada or the US( a 10th the size of metro Detroit) When a patient requires immediate medical intervention they have to go to the larger medical centers. Since Detroit has 4 major hospitals with 15 min of Windsor it only makes sense to travel there instead of a 3 hr drive to London which has the equivalent care. 100% of costs covered under Canadian health care .

[Canuckistanian]

6. I just heard the reason on CBC radio tonight

It seems that the ambulance was randomly chosen to be inspected by the Border Patrol's automated system.

And there was no protocol to cancel it. If the Border guards has waved the ambulance through, they could have been disciplined or fired.

This was just another case of rigid bureaucratic procedures devoid of all common sense.

And another thing - this isn't the first time it has happened.

[ohio2007]

7. What's wrong with Canadian health care for heart problems?

They don't do angioplasty in Canada ?
I thought they provided better care then the US system.

[Heywood J]

12. Windsor is a comparatively small city.

Things like angioplasty are provided in major centers, but Windsor is an hour's drive away from any other city on the Canadian side. It's not logical to build a center for that with a small population when you can transport them a short distance. Unfortunately, that ability seems to be in jeopardy now.

[ohio2007]

19. Windsor is a 'burb' of Detroit.

emergency procedures of authorized ambulances were in place. How many ambulance companies do they have in that burb ?
somebody trying to save a buck or two on a cheaper ride?

[razzleberry]

8. more special priviledge BS

what a bunch of crap,
expecting some kind of special (no waiting) deal.

live in Canada,
use their health system.

[Vinca]

9. I see a Republican talking point here.

While it's more than likely this person was going to an American hospital because it was the closest facility to do the procedure, this will be pointed out as a reason not to have "demon socialized medicine." No one will point out that this patient was probably being sent to the most convenient facility and that THE CANADIAN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WILL BE PAYING THE BILL. This happens all the time. The Canadians who come here for specialized care are not necessarily paying for it out of pocket. Usually the government pays. Canada has been smart in using the overbuilt facilities in our country rather than spending a fortune to duplicate them there.

[JBoy]

11. This second incident was a bit of a tipping point

Not that it will likely amount to much, but Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D - Miss.), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security has fired off this letter to Chertoff, requesting an explanation of the two incidents: http://hsc-democrats.house.gov/SiteDocuments/20071120111445-67508.pdf

[CHIMO]

13. BORDER AMBULANCE FOLO

Yesterday, we told you about a Windsor resident Rick Laporte. Mr. Laporte was being driven to a Detroit hospital last week for emergency heart surgery. When the ambulance he was in reached the border, officials pulled it over for a random check. Now Mr. Laporte is back in Windsor, recovering.


We reached him in his room at the Windsor Regional Hospital.

http://www.cbc.ca/aih/latestshow.html

http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/asithappens/20071120-aih-1.wmv

The interview starts after a short pause following the intro.

Luckily everything seems OK.

I would suggest that agreements not be treated as agreements unless they are guaranteed. By parties that have the authority to make the guarantee.

[Heywood J]

14. That's a crock.

If the ambulance pulls up with lights and sirens on, with a police escort and advance papers, you deal with the consequences later. I can understand if a random ambulance showed up out of nowhere, how it might be suspicious, but the police don't usually escort terrorists...

If I were the border guard, I'd have let them through and dealt with it later. Whether you're disciplined or fired, at least that way the guy in the ambulance is still alive, and his life is worth more than any reprimand or job.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

15. There was another story last week about firefighters from Canada called to a border town

I recall that thread. I hope someone links to it. Gee, these are beginning to add up. Sooner or later, someone's going to die because of the delay.

[CHIMO]

18. One Of The Links

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3065770

[Harper_is_Bush]

17. My understanding is the secondary inspection is dictated by computer

it's a random thing.

But you would think in this case the guard would superceed it.

Anyone wanna bet this is a rightwing asshole pissed off at Moore's "Sicko" and looking to give the impression that US healthcare is better than Canada's?