Sharon and Frank Amorth are reeling in a sea of painful questions after tragedy struck at home.
“We know we’re not going to get Ethan, but we don’t want this happening to anyone else,” Sharon said.
The Amorth’s 25-year-old son, Ethan, passed away at home on Sept. 24.
That week he visited the Pasqua Hospital emergency room with his mother on the Wednesday and Thursday nights before his death.
At his first visit, he complained of back pain, which they thought was possibly linked to his electrician job. His mother said he was given “a shot of valium” and sent home with a prescription for Tylenol 3s.
The following night, that pain had worsened and he returned to the emergency, but was sent away by the second doctor without further examination.
The family says they’re concerned about how quickly he was discharged from the hospital the second time -- after rating his pain at an eight or nine out of ten.
“No stethoscope, no X-rays, no bloodwork, no nothing … he was complaining of not breathing well,” Sharon said.
The family filed a formal complaint to the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the college has since initiated an inquiry into the family’s concerns.
An excerpt from the college’s response read “upon review of the information you have provided we identified that some of your concerns may be considered a critical incident and you may want to report your concerns to the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region.”
“I would like to know that something is going to be changed in the medical system so that this won’t happen again,” said Sharon.
The health region was not available to comment as they don’t speak about specific cases. The Amorths haven't filed an official complaint with the health region yet, but said they plan to in the near future.
