Quebec officials are expressing strong disapproval following the tragic passing of a four-year-old child in the Nunavik community of Ivujivik amid allegations that the youngster was refused medical care.
In a press statement on Thursday, Québec Solidaire representative Sol Zanetti demanded clarity regarding the demise of Jusi Padlayat, who reportedly passed away on August 3 after his parents took him to the local clinic multiple times for abdominal discomfort, but he did not receive treatment.
According to an interview with La Presse, the child’s grandmother, Annie Mangiuk, disclosed that the family’s concerns were dismissed by medical personnel who advised them to administer Advil or Tylenol to the child.
Mangiuk recounted to La Presse that Padlayat was discovered unconscious on August 1, taken to the local nursing station, and subsequently transferred to the Montreal Children’s Hospital where he succumbed two days later.
Zanetti condemned the prolonged suffering of the child as unacceptable and raised concerns about potential negligence. He emphasized the need to address any systemic racism within healthcare services if present.
Furthermore, Zanetti urged the Commissioner of Children’s Rights and Welfare to probe Padlayat’s passing. The Quebec Liberal Party (QLP) also echoed the call for healthcare enhancements in northern regions, proposing increased telemedicine services as a viable solution.
The tragic incident prompted Joyce’s Principle Office to emphasize the importance of respecting human dignity through attentive and effective service delivery to Indigenous communities.
The Inuulitsivik Health Centre and the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services have confirmed that both internal and external investigations will be conducted into the child’s death.
While Quebec’s coroner’s office acknowledged an ongoing investigation, they refrained from disclosing specifics regarding the causes or circumstances of the fatality. Similarly, the Montreal Children’s Hospital declined to comment on individual cases.