Minister to probe overdose death of teenager
VICTORIA — B.C. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy says she will look into claims of a grieving Oak Bay couple who say a “perverse” provincial law blocked them from vital information about their son’s drug use and his medical treatment plan.
“That is something I will be looking into,” said Darcy. “We will certainly be following up on that and that’s part of what Island Health will be looking into and I certainly plan to reach out to the family — not to intrude on their grief but to learn from their wisdom.”
Elliot Eurchuk, 16, died in his Oak Bay home Friday morning after taking street drugs his parents believe he was using to help him sleep.
Rachel Staples and Brock Eurchuk say their son’s drug use started after he was prescribed opioids for four surgical procedures last year, the results of sports-related injuries and complications.
Then on Feb. 9, during a daypass from Victoria General Hospital where he was recovering from a life-threatening infection, Elliot returned to hospital where he overdosed.
His parents demanded to know what drugs he had ingested and what his medical treatment plan was. Instead they were told the hospital must uphold their son’s legal right to withhold that information.
“It’s a perversion of what is right; what is common-sense right,” Eurchuk said.
Island Health said that similar to the B.C. Coroners Service, the health authority will conduct a review of the care Elliot received when he was at Island Health facilities.
“I understand that Island Health will be conducting a review of the care that Elliot received in their facilities to determine what changes could be made,” said Darcy.
Darcy acknowledged the couple’s “courageous” act in speaking out so soon after “an unimaginable tragedy.”
“I think everybody who has heard Elliot’s story has been struck by their strength and their commitment to ensuring no other family has to suffer such a devastating loss which is quite remarkable,” said Darcy.
“And for our ministry’s part we will continue to get the message out there about both the lack of safety of the drugs — the poisoned drugs on the street — that this can happen to anybody’s family, and that we’re going to continue to escalate our response in every way we possibly can to save lives,” said Darcy.
Island Health issued the reminder on the weekend: “Don’t use alone, have a naloxone kit and be trained to use it.”
For other parents worried about what to take from this tragedy, Eurchuk, grief stricken and fatigued, tried to impart that drug-awareness messaging to kids must be unequivocal and factual — not manipulative, coercive or exaggerated.
“When a person buys drugs on the streets they don’t know what they are buying,” said Eurchuk. “Counsellors say that, doctors say that, parents say that, adults say that and kids don’t listen to it or believe it is accurate.
“Somehow adolescent kids need to understand and be schooled that that is a statement of fact,” said Eurchuk.
Throughout Elliot’s years of excruciating pain from serious injuries and post-operative recovery and finally a life-threatening infection, he grew knowledgeable about painkillers and how to self medicate to sleep. “At this point standing where I am now I wish he wasn’t that smart,” said Eurchuk.