Quebec officials are expressing strong disapproval following the passing of a four-year-old child in Ivujivik, Nunavik, amidst claims that the youngster was not provided with medical attention.
In a press statement on Thursday, Québec Solidaire representative Sol Zanetti demanded accountability concerning the demise of Jusi Padlayat, who reportedly passed away on August 3 after his parents sought medical care for his stomach discomfort at the local clinic multiple times without receiving treatment.
According to Padlayat’s grandmother, Annie Mangiuk, speaking to La Presse, the family’s worries were dismissed by healthcare personnel who advised administering Advil or Tylenol to the child. Mangiuk disclosed that Padlayat was discovered unconscious on August 1, taken to the local nursing station, and later transferred to the Montreal Children’s Hospital, where he succumbed two days later.
Zanetti criticized the delay in addressing the child’s suffering, labeling it as unacceptable and indicative of possible neglect. He underscored the need to investigate if systemic racism played a role in the healthcare services and urged the Commissioner of Children’s Rights and Welfare to probe Padlayat’s demise.
The Quebec Liberal Party (QLP) also called for enhancements in healthcare services in northern regions, proposing increased telemedicine options as a viable solution. Sandrine Rioux, the QLP candidate in Ungava encompassing Ivujivik, emphasized the importance of ensuring seamless access to healthcare for individuals in Ungava.
In response to the tragedy, the Joyce’s Principle Office stressed the significance of prioritizing respect and dignity in all services offered to First Nations and Inuit communities, drawing parallels between Padlayat’s fatality and the case of Joyce Echaquan, an Atikamekw woman who recorded staff at a Quebec hospital making racist remarks towards her before her death.
Sylvestre Desterres, interim executive director of the Joyce’s Principle Office, emphasized the need for families to be heard and not marginalized in healthcare settings. Both the Inuulitsivik Health Centre and the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services have pledged internal and external reviews following the incident.
The Quebec coroner’s office confirmed an ongoing investigation into the matter but refrained from commenting on specifics surrounding the child’s passing. The Montreal Children’s Hospital declined to provide details on individual cases.
