British Columbia resident Kathleen Palamarek, a patient in the Broadmead Lodge nursing home in Saanich, on Vancouver Island, who became an international symbol of the fight to prevent forced institutionalization of the elderly, died Wednesday, May 4, one day after a Canadian judge ruled that she must remain confined indefinitely.
Initial reports indicate that Mrs. Palamarek, the 88-year-old widow of a World War II veteran, died of a heart attack. Mrs. Palamarek’s daughter, Lois Sampson, who spent three years trying to free her mother from Broadmead, said Thursday, “The events leading up to Mom’s death were suspiciously similar to the events leading up to the February 24th narcotic poisoning incident.” Mrs. Sampson added that messages she received from family members who fought to keep her mother in Broadmead Lodge “did not match our observations of Mom.”
Kathleen Palamarek Born: July 15, 1922. Died: May 4, 2011. Rest in Peace.
In the February incident Mrs. Sampson discovered her mother in a near-comatose state at Broadmead and summoned emergency services via a 911 call. Mrs. Palamarek was taken to a local hospital emergency room, over the strenuous objections of Broadmead staff, where she was administered an antidote for morphine poisoning and she recovered. However, Vancouver Island Health Authority officials intervened and forced her back to Broadmead Lodge preventing any further treatment or testing.
The ruling Tuesday from B.C. Justice David Harris, was released more than two months after the end of a trial in which Mrs. Sampson presented extensive evidence and testimony from legal and medical experts who questioned the quality of Mrs. Palamarek’s care, the drugs she was administered, and the advisability of her continued residence at Broadmead.
Mrs. Sampson maintained that her mother wanted to leave Broadmead so she could live with her daughter and son-in-law, and repeatedly expressed a wish to do so. Justice Harris, however, in his 70-page opinion, rejected every argument put forth by Mrs. Sampson’s witnesses, preferring instead to use the ruling to attack Mrs. Sampson personally, questioning her character and her motives.
He rejected the opinions of the experts who testified in favor of releasing Mrs. Palamarek from Broadmead Lodge, and deferred instead to medical testimony provided by the Lodge, particularly on the drugs administered to Mrs. Palamarek. Harris claimed that even if some of the drugs prescribed to Mrs. Palamarek are known to be harmful and can cause death in the elderly, there was insufficient evidence to determine that these drugs were actually harming Mrs. Palamarek.
Mrs. Sampson said that in the days leading up to Mrs. Palamarek’s death –even before the judge’s ruling – she became increasingly suspicious. “We had our first inkling that something was afoot a week ago,” she said. “Our lawyer Lloyd Duhaime sent a letter to register our concerns about Mom’s care and health to the lawyers for my brothers and for Broadmead Lodge. We also requested an independent medical assessment of Mom.
“We communicated those concerns to the Saanich Police as well. No response was received from Broadmead, my brothers or the Saanich Police. My brothers did not permit Mom to be treated in a hospital; instead she was designated to receive “comfort care” only (bottom level ‘care’), which I refer to as ‘aggressive neglect.'”
Mrs. Sampson, her husband and other friends made a video of Mrs. Palamarek during a visit to Broadmead late last month. The video which shows Mrs. Palamarek to be remarkably engaged and aware can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrzngkyy6Ds
It is amazing to say the least that within two weeks Mrs. Palamarek went from alive, aware and engaged, to dead, literally within a day of a Canadian judge’s ruling that she would not be allowed to leave the institution that she was forced to call home for three years.
Mrs. Sampson added, “This morning I made a request to the Coroner’s office …. The Coroner is now investigating Mom’s death to determine what further actions might be taken to learn more about the circumstances.”
I would like to go to Katleen’s funeral. Please advise when and were it is.
audreylaferriere@yahoo.ca
After watching the video trice and waking up in the middle of the night, Ron I want to tell you I have already sent Granny Snatching: Death in BC; Heart Attack Fells Elderly Icon to most of who I know especially those in the Vancouver Coastal Health. If this doesn’t shake up the legal, medical and the government on purpose. audreylaferriere@yahoo.ca 604-321-2276. .
Ron if this doesn’t put you on every talk show in the countries of Canada and the USA, there is no hope for the elderly. Now I know why I wasn’t allowed to take pictures in George Pearson Centre. It has nothing to do with privacy but everything to do with evidence.
Again, why can’t you provide contact information for Lois Sampson (Kathleen’s mom) and yourself. No wonder this hasn’t gotten anywhere. Everything you write you should at the bottom display your contact information like they do for the Vancouver Province Newspaper in BC.
Lois Sampson 1-250-383-0981 (White Pages Victoria/Saanich)
Audrey, you can reach me at RWinterbooks@comcast.net. In the case of Lois Sampson’s contact info I was respecting her privacy during a time of mourning and intense stress over the death of her mother. I did, however, forward your message to her so she can contact you when she has a minute. As for me, I work four jobs, one of which is taking care of my own mother – now 94 – which is a major full-time, 24-hour a day undertaking that I share in more or less equal parts with my wife and daughter. I respond to all emails as soon as I can.
Thank you that is all I need is some kind of acknowledgment that this is real. I hope that the boys will allow Lois and Gil to attend Lois’ funeral. What I did this morning was photocopy 100 copies of your last post (double sided) and am slowly distributing them in my neighbourhood which is Langara-Marpole which is a rich old neighbourhood many of who are elderly. I hope that a wave of concern comes from this. When I first had problems with George Pearson Centre I went to the newspapers and even before I told my story I was told that they would not do anything so I just walked. They have been censored somehow but how this is Canada I said to myself.
It’s an outrage . . . if other family members are willing to take responsibility and care of their parent . . . the nursing home has no right to hold someone prisioner! Something needs to be looked into more thoroughly!!!! Very Sad indeed!
Maria where do you live. Please contact me: audreylaferriere@yahoo.ca
Are you going to be able to post Judge Harris’s judgment or can you give us a link.
Thank you.l
I am going to start a campaign .. I am not sure what direction it will go; I am sure it will develop a life of its own called: Its too late for Kathleen. Please send me your email address to audreylaferriere@yahoo.ca. You can also view my view on how visitors are treated by the BC Health Authority. http://voiceofgoneballistic.blogspot.com
Are you alright with storage and early termination of the eldery being acceptable in your country?
My sympathy to Kathleen’s family and friends. I am certain the struggle shall continue with the courts over this topic. It is of interest to me that the news report merely mentions a “Canadian judge” without a name, the of the court, nor the reasoning for the ruling. It is a sad day when being unable to care for yourself physically, leads to your forced confinement and decision making capabilities are transferred to dispassionate courts with no interest in your wellbeing. I see much fighing in the courts and legislature for the begining of life, that every being is of value and no expense is spared to save premature children or prevent abortions. However during the closing years of life, storage and early termination become acceptable. If a parent that treated a child, like the elderly are being treated, could easily have their parental rights taken by the courts. It is strange to me that a child can abuse their parents, or worse the state home can abuse a patient and the redress is to remain in the abusive location whilst the courts dally on decisions which are…to the aveage observer, not in the best interest of the elder. I am not an attorney and I know sometimes judges use their power to alter the legislators’ intent regarding the law. Perhaps the legisture is the true culprit. Are the elder care laws which enable forced confinement the true problem or are the courts abusing their power? I read of cases where elderly, ailing prisoners serving long sentences are being released to the public because it is too much trouble and expense to keep them locked up and provide the legally required medical care. The cost seems to be the issue. Again, we spend on the youth and neglect the aged. Many of us shall be as helpless in life’s final decade as we were during our first decade.
If you are appalled with storage and early termination of the eldery being acceptable in your country, write to your representatives.
Dear Ron,
My deepest sympathy goes out to the family of Mrs. Palamarek, especially to Mr. and Mrs. Sampson.
When something underhanded seems to be afoot, following the money trail often leads to answers. Broadmead Lodge had financial motives for keeping Mrs. Palamarek incarcerated there. But what of Mrs. Palamarek’s sons? What is their motive for opposing their mother’s desire for home care despite the fact that she was receiving less-than-stellar care at Broadmead? I have been following Mrs. Palamarek’s story, but I had not heard of the sons until today’s update.
This story is chilling. Evil and greed kept Kathleen Palamarek in that institution. Fear of litigation from the nursing home that would wipe out an inheritance? That’s all I can assume the reason is for the Palamarek brothers to keep their Mom in a place where she was so unhappy, when there was an alternative that Lois worked so hard to achieve. If Lois was willing to take responsibility for her, there shouldn’t have been an issue. As a RN, I’m appalled by the Vancouver Island Health Authority not allowing the basic bloodwork and toxicology screening that any person off the street would get under the same circumstances when Kathleen came in overdosed (what were THEY afraid might be revealed?). I’m appalled by the judge’s decision which, even in the limited bits that I’ve read, made no logical sense at all. I’m appalled that such a loving daughter would be kept from her mother in the last days of her life out of spite. This is awful, vindictive stuff. And most of all, I’m very sad because this was a very sweet aunt of mine and while her sons might think they knew what was best for her, Lois is the only one who put self interest aside and listened to what her Mom really wanted; who respected her wishes and fought for her rights. This has strengthened my mother’s resolve to never go into an institution….she is a quadriplegic who is totally dependent, who cannot even scratch her nose! My brother lives with her, and with the assistance of a group of home care workers, she is cared for at home. Auntie Kay would have been a piece of cake to look after at home, in comparison. Thank God for people like Lois and Gerald.
I will be following this. Lois, if you read this, my family including Mom is aware of what has happened and you have our full support and sympathy.
All my heart is with Family of Mis. Palamarek. This is terrible and how it is possible to do this in free Canada? It looks like crooks and terrorist overtook our country and do evil to all of us. I pray for you to find the truth and put all criminals in jail!!!!