Re “A medical/legal horror story — 15 years and counting” (Alan Shanoff, April 28):
This reminded me of the living hell my wife Laurie and I went through when our son Logan was born with brain damage (cerebral palsy). I knew something was wrong when the delivery doctor couldn’t look me in the eye, as Logan was presented to us all awash in tubes and wires. After not having a heartbeat for 20 minutes — he had been revived. I refused to pull the plug, at the doctor’s urging, and he was eventually sent home to our loving care. I hired a lawyer and sued the hospital and doctors for the harm they caused my son. It took 10 years of battle and about $500,000 in legal fees, then mere days before the trial started, they wanted to settle, out of court. Two weeks later Logan passed away from complications of cerebral palsy. At least Laurie and I don’t have to worry about money anymore, but living life with Logan was the biggest reward of all. He knew what love was that’s for sure.
MARK-ALAN WHITTLE
HAMILTON
(Sorry for your loss, families should not have to endure the stress of caring for a sick child while battling the health care system)
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Showing posts with label Advocacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Advocacy. Show all posts
Sunday, May 05, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
City sets timeline for lobbyist registry decision
Hamilton has voluntary registry
In 2007, Toronto became the first Canadian municipality to establish this type of registry, which requires city officials to publicly disclose every time they meet with a lobbyist.
Ottawa's city council followed suit, voting in July 2012 to create its own lobbyist registry.
In 2004, Hamilton set up a program that allows lobbyists to register with the city on a voluntary basis.
As of Tuesday, the list contained only three names.
Mark-Alan Whittle is one of names. He's a semi-retired lobbyist who advocated for the voluntary list and is pushing the city to adopt a mandatory registry.
He said lobbyists, including those representing developers and also anti-poverty groups, have a “way too cozy relationship” with officials at city hall.
“If you don't have a mandatory registry to capture these guys, you're not going to know what's going on.”
However, he's doubtful that city councillors will champion the cause because they're worried about the public learning about their close ties to lobbyists, he said. “They know once this is mandatory there'll be a lot of red faces around the council chamber and among city staff.”
In 2007, Toronto became the first Canadian municipality to establish this type of registry, which requires city officials to publicly disclose every time they meet with a lobbyist.
Ottawa's city council followed suit, voting in July 2012 to create its own lobbyist registry.
In 2004, Hamilton set up a program that allows lobbyists to register with the city on a voluntary basis.
As of Tuesday, the list contained only three names.
Mark-Alan Whittle is one of names. He's a semi-retired lobbyist who advocated for the voluntary list and is pushing the city to adopt a mandatory registry.
He said lobbyists, including those representing developers and also anti-poverty groups, have a “way too cozy relationship” with officials at city hall.
“If you don't have a mandatory registry to capture these guys, you're not going to know what's going on.”
However, he's doubtful that city councillors will champion the cause because they're worried about the public learning about their close ties to lobbyists, he said. “They know once this is mandatory there'll be a lot of red faces around the council chamber and among city staff.”
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