A doctor who is a former president of the Canadian Medical Association and a nurse at Whitehorse General Hospital have been found negligent in the death of a teenaged girl.
Dr. Allon Reddoch was cited in Yukon Supreme Court for not providing an acceptable standard of care to 16-year-old Mary-Ann Grennan, who died of botulism on her birthday, April 26, 1996.
Kelly White, the nurse who last treated Ms. Grennan, was found to have failed to report important developments in the girl's condition to a doctor.
Mr. Justice Howard Irving said the greater fault lay with Dr. Reddoch and apportioned two-thirds of the blame to him.
"The patient's condition had been deteriorating and suggestive of a possible primary neurological disorder as a cause for her complaints, none of which was recognized by [Dr. Reddoch]" Judge Irving said.
"Dr. Reddoch seemed to be so sure that Ms. Grennan's symptoms were psychogenic that he failed to consider any differential diagnosis."
Though botulism could not have been expected to be diagnosed, proper attention to the increasing signs of a neurological disorder, whatever it was, could have saved the girl, Judge Irving said.
"I found it puzzling indeed that Dr. Reddoch took such a narrow view of Ms. Grennan's symptoms that he failed to recognize the deterioration in her condition."
Ms. Grennan made three visits to the hospital's emergency ward before being admitted Sept. 9, 1995. Hospital notes indicate she was admitted with gastroenteritis.
Botulism, a form of food poisoning, went undiagnosed during her hospital stay. Almost eight months later, she suffered respiratory arrest, fell into a coma and died.
However, the diagnosis made by Dr. Reddoch before Ms. Grennan's respiratory arrest was globus hystericus or inflammation of the throat caused by anxiety.
Dr. Reddoch then diagnosed an iron deficiency caused by dehydration.
He said after the verdict that attention from the court case was beginning to become too heavy a burden for him and his family.
"I don't think I've done anything wrong," he said. "It does make me question whether it's worthwhile practising medicine in the Yukon."
Dr. Reddoch said he expects an appeal will be filed, although no decision has yet been made.
"I'm not giving up," he said.
Ms. White, the nurse on duty when Ms. Grennan suffered respiratory arrest, was unavailable.
Ron Browne, chief executive officer of Whitehorse General Hospital, said the court decision did not shake the hospital's faith in Ms. White's abilities.
"She is an excellent nurse, and in our view, she tried very hard to figure out for herself what was happening," Mr. Browne said. "Unfortunately, time ran out."
"We know [the decision]will be devastating for her, because she is very conscientious."
Judge Irving also awarded $143,850 to Ms. Grennan's estate.
Edward Grennan, Ms. Grennan's father, said in an interview that the award was never an issue.
"This was never about revenge or money," Mr. Grennan said. "It was about justice and . . . people admitting when they're wrong."