An Ontario family is urging the provincial government to establish maximum wait times for children in emergency rooms. This call to action follows the death of their 16-year-old son, Finlay, who died after waiting over eight hours for medical attention at a hospital last year.

GJ and Hazel van der Werken, residents of Burlington, Ontario, recounted their experience on February 7, 2024, when they took Finlay to Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. He had been experiencing mild illness and severe migraines, which worsened significantly. Hazel described the emergency department as overcrowded, with patients filling the corridors.

"That was where Finlay was calling out in pain," she recalled. After a quick triage, the family felt hopeful that he would see a doctor soon. However, that hope faded as the wait extended to eight hours and 22 minutes.

Hazel described those hours as a "constant state of terror," noting that Finlay's oxygen levels were deteriorating during the wait. GJ added, "He basically gave up. Nobody was helping him."

When Finlay was finally seen by a doctor, he was diagnosed with hypoxia and pneumonia due to sepsis. He was intubated and later transferred to SickKids Hospital in Toronto, where he was placed on life support. Unfortunately, his condition continued to decline, and the family was informed that there was no chance of recovery.

In the wake of their loss, the van der Werkens decided to take legal action. GJ stated, "Long wait times are normal apparently, and nobody seems to fight this. Since Finlay can’t voice his concerns anymore, we felt obliged to speak for him and try to prevent this from happening to others."

Earlier this year, the family filed a lawsuit against Halton Healthcare Services, which operates the hospital, along with other defendants. They allege that the hospital had an "inadequate system" for ensuring timely medical attention and lacked sufficient staff to monitor patients in the emergency department.

Halton Healthcare expressed condolences to the family but refrained from commenting on the specifics of the case due to privacy concerns. Cheryl Williams, the executive vice-president of clinical operations, acknowledged the increasing complexity of health conditions among patients, which has led to longer wait times and greater demands on emergency services.

The van der Werkens believe Finlay's situation highlights a broader issue within Ontario's healthcare system. They have heard similar stories from other families who have lost loved ones due to extended wait times, which Hazel described as "not acceptable."

The family is requesting a coroner’s inquest into Finlay’s death and is advocating for what they call "Finlay’s Law." This proposed legislation would establish maximum emergency room wait times for children and enforce safe staffing ratios, among other measures.

Hazel emphasized the urgency of their request, stating, "For Finlay’s triage level, it should have been within 15 minutes that he was seen after being triaged. We are not even close. With that many patients, and with patients with that high level of triage, it’s not sustainable."