The context
- A central line was put in a hospitalized man. This procedure consists of inserting a narrow tube called a catheter into a wide vein.
- Afterwards, the man complained about pain to the nurses. They gave him ice and medication, but they did not seem worried.
- A few days later, the patient’s condition became very troubling. The staff did some tests and discovered that because of the central line, a serious infection had spread throughout the man’s body. The infection was treated urgently.
The complaint
The man felt that the infection should have been detected and treated sooner. If it had, he would have been spared various complications. He complained to the Québec Ombudsman.
What the investigation showed
- The investigation did not reveal any deficiencies in the staff’s central line and pain monitoring. However, there had been other symptoms of infection, especially in blood test results. The nurses should have caught the signs.
- What’s more, the Québec Ombudsman discovered that the man was on medication that increases the risk of infection. Given this, the staff should have kept a closer eye on him.
The outcome
The Québec Ombudsman made a recommendation to the institution responsible for the care and services provided by the hospital. The institution agreed to establish the measures needed so that, going forward, the nursing staff would be more attentive to the risk of infection in such situations.
The Québec Ombudsman ensures that your rights are upheld in your dealings with Québec public services. Are you dissatisfied with the services of a Government of Québec department or agency? Or with those of a health and social services network institution (2nd level of recourse)? File a complaint with the Québec Ombudsman by calling 1-800-463-5070 or use our online complaint form.
