Ontario man claims dying wife stranded in Mexico over unfounded swine flu fears

[tekisui]

Source: The Canadian Press

TORONTO — The family of a Toronto woman on life-support in a Mexican hospital said Monday that they believe she's being blocked from returning to Canada because of false fears over swine flu.

Victoria George, 29, has been in a Cancun hospital since Wednesday after suffering a severe asthma attack that sent her into cardiac arrest. She was on vacation with her husband and their five-year-old son.

Her prognosis is grim and loved-ones want her flown back to Ontario to say their goodbyes, efforts that relatives claim have been repeatedly denied because of the swine flu outbreak that's suspected of killing more than 140 people and sickening more than 1,000 others in Mexico.

"We feel as if there's a strong, improper association with her and the swine flu... It has thwarted her ability to be brought back into Canada," the woman's mother, Pauline George, said Monday.

George's husband, Dylan Pazzano, said he was initially told there were no intensive-care unit beds at hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area. However, Pazzano said the family later received assurances that there was no shortage of space at hospitals in and around Toronto.

As of Monday, he had not received any update on why his wife could not return to Canada.

"It's just been an excuse after excuse," Pazzano said in a telephone interview with The Canadian Press from Cancun.

"We've been stranded by our own country, by our own government. I've always been so proud to live where I have and so lucky to live where I have. I'm ashamed to be a Canadian right now," said Pazzano, 33.

more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hwq0UCNZyXWULPLZizHucY3J1aiA

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. As much as this is a sad story... fact is... the Canadians are doing

exactly what is SOP in these situations

[jsamuel]

2. is lying in the SOP?

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Cancun has a cluster

so is keeping somebody who is in a place that presumably could have this SOP

Hospitals tend to treat people who sometimes die from the flu, in this case swine flu

[JonLP24]

7. What exactly is the SOP?

The Canadian Health Minister said no one is barred from returning from Mexico.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. If you are in a hospital in a place where any health ministry suspects

there is a deadly infectious disease, they will refuse you entry

In fact, if you listened to Napolitano today, she hinted we are ready to do the same

This is pretty standard actually

[JonLP24]

12. Well I wish the article has in fact the real SOP

All it tells me is the health minister says no one is barred from Ontario hospitals. You may be right but I actually wantt to know what the facts are.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. I suspect that is exactly what is going on

not only seen this in theory but practice

And plans that contemplate this

Now I feel sorry for the husband, and the family, but if this is what is going on and the press is not reporting it, shoddy reporting...

Most people don't know, but you can be kept out of your home country even on the suspicion of being a carrier for a deadly disease

The infectious kind

[JonLP24]

15. I understand

I mean if she is in the hospital for asthma and not swine flu(They can find out can't they?) she should be let in right?

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. That takes taking sample and sending to canadian labs

Mexico, so far, does not have the capability from what I understand... they may by now, but that is what in theory should take

[JonLP24]

17. That makes sense

The only thing I know of Mexico was my one visit to Tijuana and that itself doesn't give an accurate impression of Mexico as a whole. The article is one sided primarily because of privacy when it comes to discussing medical conditions so it really doesn't explain WHY they are blocking her. All it explains is the husband's side, I'd really like to know the reason why. But based on the reasons you given I'll give the benefit of the doubt to the blockers for now.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Grew up in Mexico City

and was a medic in TJ for ten years...

One of the hats I wore was disaster service...

Lets just say... having to deal with INS regularly in medical evacuations can be an education

[hedgehog]

21. On the other hand, people in my family tend to develop

asthma as a consequence of viral infection. Maybe what looked like asthma to the husband is the flu.

[babylonsister]

3. What a sad situation. nt

[Demeter]

5. Pazzano Is an Idiot

It's all about him, isn't it?

[jsamuel]

6. shame on him for thinking about his dying wife

:sarcasm:

[EFerrari]

10. This is really wrong but if the lady is that ill,

maybe her husband should prepare himself to say goodbye to her where she is instead of dragging her all the way back home.

Very, very sad.

[Demeter]

11. He's Thinking About His Own Guilt, Not His Wife

[JonLP24]

13. Not sure how you can tell one way the other

Details in the article are very limited.

[Demeter]

19. Read a Little on Survivor's Guilt

Think about it. Who benefits by his temper tantrum, if he gets his demand?

[JonLP24]

20. If he gets his demand, based on the article the family gets to say their

goodbyes in person. Not exactly a bad thing especially if the wife wants it as well but it doesn't say what she wants. Either way not a bad thing.

[Demeter]

22. At the Cost of How Many Infected?

So glad you're all willing to gamble on there not being a pandemic.

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Depends on how you do the transport

you could conceivable do it, and keep this contained

The cost is horrendous... ICU patient, plus full isolation protocols

But you are correct

[JonLP24]

24. According to him she doesn't have swine flu

There isn't enough info in this story to tell me if she does or doesn't. If she doesn't I see his point.

[JonLP24]

8. Call me an idiot

I can see myself reacting the same way.