Two systems fail Faye Carter

After 10 long years, the family of Faye Carter have finally received some sort of closure for her untimely and tragic death, which occurred at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in 2008. Faye waited more than 18 hours for surgery after a routine bowel operation resulted in fecal matter poisoning her body. It’s a very sad story.

P.E.I. Supreme Court Justice Jacqueline Matheson ordered the settlement records sealed, which means Islanders will not learn about the circumstances that took place. Negotiations between Faye’s estate and the province produced a settlement that was contingent on a confidentiality order - without confidentiality, the defence would not settle. It sounds like the family was bullied into accepting a settlement for their confidentiality. After 10 long years, I don’t blame them.

My great grandmother died in a similar situation at the QEH nearly 30 years ago. My family received little information, much of which resulted in many unanswered questions. I was hoping the details from this court case might shed a little light on how something like this could happen.

Judge Matheson says the public interest was satisfied in knowing that a settlement was reached. I disagree. As long as the family is comfortable with the details being shared, the public has a right to know. After all, the public funds the health care system that failed Faye.

Andrew Chisholm, Charlottetown