Public services are becoming dehumanized, warns Quebec Ombudsman
CTV
Public services in Quebec are becoming dehumanized, warns Quebec Ombudsman Marc-André Dowd in his 2023-2024 annual report, which is filled with concrete examples.
Public services in Quebec are becoming dehumanized, warns Quebec Ombudsman Marc-André Dowd in his 2023-2024 annual report, which is filled with concrete examples.
Dowd highlights the case of a terminally ill man who lived alone and received home care services.
The man had a cat, which he considered a companion, but the issue was that he could no longer maintain the cat's litter box.
Local CLSC officials refused to include cleaning the litter box in his care plan.
According to the ombudsman, it is clear that support should have been provided to the dying man for "humanitarian reasons."
Moreover, during an unannounced investigation at a long-term care home (CHSLD), the ombudsman witnessed how lunch was being served in the dining room.
He observed that staff were serving meals to residents "mechanically," talking amongst themselves, while the television was blaring.
