The Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Inquest Report

 

 

May 16, 1994 - The meeting of the
Section of Pediatric Anaesthesia

On Monday, May 16, 1994, the pediatric anaesthesia section met. It was at this meeting that the section voted to take the extraordinary step of withdrawing services to pediatric cardiac surgery. Swartz, McNeill, Wong and Reimer outlined their concerns with the program. They were concerned about morbidity and mortality, the apparent lack of monitoring and the deteriorating relations among team members. According to McNeill, the members of the section who did not give anaesthetics for open cardiac procedures all expressed their support for the four who did.

Craig was present at the meeting, although he left during the discussion. Before leaving, he indicated that he would support the section members in whatever decision they reached. At the time Craig recognized that withdrawal of services was an option under consideration.

After continued discussion, the section decided to issue a statement about cardiac anaesthesia. The statement was sent to Wiseman because he was the head of pediatric surgery. The memorandum was to inform him of a decision to suspend the provision of cardiac anaesthesia services for open cases until a review of the Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Program was undertaken. The suspension of services was to go into effect on May 17. Ullyot testified that she initially opposed the decision to withdraw services on such short notice. However, she said, the anaesthetists were adamant that the program be halted until it was determined if it was viable.

The section also selected McNeill to serve as the head of pediatric cardiac surgery anaesthesia. This appointment was not widely communicated at the time. Indeed, it was not until October 12, 1994, that Ullyot sent a memorandum to Craig, with copies to the appropriate heads and VCHC staff, announcing McNeill's appointment as director of pediatric cardiac anaesthesia.

After the meeting ended, Ullyot drafted a memorandum outlining the decision that had been taken at that day's meeting. In the evening she telephoned Craig and read the memorandum to him. Craig said he indicated that he would continue to support the anaesthetists in their action. He testified he did this because the issues they had raised were serious and it appeared that they had not been able to have them properly addressed.

 

 

Current Home - Table of Contents - Chapter 6 - May 16, 1994 - The meeting of the
Section of Pediatric Anaesthesia
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Section 1 Chapter 1 - Introduction to the Issues
  Chapter 2 - Pediatric Cardiac Issues
  Chapter 3 - The Diagnosis of Pediatric Heart Defects and their Surgical Treatment
  Chapter 4 - The Health Sciences Centre
Section 2 Chapter 5 - Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in Winnipeg 1950-1993
  Chapter 6 - The Restart of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in 1994
January 1, 1994 to May 17, 1994
  Chapter 7 - The Slowdown
May 17 to September 1994
  Chapter 8 - Events Leading to the Suspension of the Program
September 7, 1994 to December 23, 1994
  Chapter 9 - 1995 - The Aftermath of the Shutdown
January to March, 1995
Section 3 Chapter 10 - Findings and Recommendations
Appendix 1 - Glossary of terms used in this report
Appendix 2 - Parties to the Proceedings and counsel
Appendix 3 - List of witnesses and dates of testimony
Diagrams
Tables
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