Orderly should apologize

Re: Speak French, family in pain told, Oct. 21.

Have we lost all sense of human sensibility with the fight for language rights in this country? John Gervais struggled with various serious health issues that culminated in a life-threatening diagnosis, only to be treated with such an inhumane attitude from a Frenchspeaking orderly. That speaks volumes about our health-care system and language rights.

The orderly would only serve the patient in French because he is of “Québécois” status, although he perfectly understood English. Not only is it a horrible way to treat a sick patient but it is, in my mind, totally unacceptable. We have crossed the line between what is considered civil human behaviour toward incivility; it may be considered as tantamount to stupidity.

Sickness requires no language, it requires compassion. The orderly should be required to formally apologize, both in writing and in person, to the family in order for the hospital to regain any respect from both the anglophone and francophone community.

LINDA BERG,

Almonte