As it develops, Mr. Golubchuk will not be left alone as the disappointed killers stomp out of the building. And those who had counted on the killing team to care for them will get care, as well, and maybe even live longer as a result, my speculation.
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The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority has found a doctor willing to be Samuel Golubchuk's physician of record.
The WRHA hopes an agreement reached yesterday with the doctor will put an end to the parade of resignations recently at the Grace Hospital's intensive care unit, where a court order requires doctors to keep Golubchuk, 84, on life support in spite of medical advice.
SCHEDULED ROTATIONS
"There will be one attending physician of record and two others to support that role," a spokeswoman for the WRHA said yesterday. "Others can continue with their scheduled rotations." The spokeswoman said discussions about returning to work were ongoing yesterday between the WRHA and the three physicians who resigned their privileges at the Grace ICU over the past month in the wake of the Golubchuk controversy.
Golubchuk's children were granted a court injunction late last year to keep their Orthodox Jewish father on life support until a hearing could be set to decide his fate. Although doctors have determined Golubchuk has no hope of ever leaving the ICU alive, his children have argued taking him off life support would violate his religious beliefs.
The hearing is set for September.
Health Minister Theresa Oswald said yesterday she is concerned about the situation but will not interfere, as the Manitoba Law Reform Commission decided in 2003 end of life decisions should be left to the courts and to the College of Physicians and Surgeons -- not politicians.
Oswald said she has been assured no patient's care has been compromised as a result of the situation and she understands emotions are running high on both sides.
"I don't think there's anybody involved in this situation right now that doesn't have a broken heart," she said.
WRHA finds doc willing to care for Golubchuk
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