Status of Women Committee on March 5th, 2014

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

You mentioned that you were discharged from hospital—you weighed ... pounds at 20 years old—because you were non-compliant. Basically, they blamed you for your own illness. [Pursuant to a motion passed on April 30, 2014, a portion of this testimony has been deleted. See Minutes of Proceedings] You had to wait four months for an assessment at TGH, and you had to prove you needed therapy. You then did four months in the program and then, because you were released too soon, you relapsed.

Here's a big question. Could that happen to a girl who shows symptoms of an eating disorder now, or is the situation much better now?

[Carly Lambert-Crawford]

That's a good question. The situation is slightly better. We have another four beds since the time I was in treatment. We have a Credit Valley program now. But I have lots of clients who have been on waiting lists for months and months and who are very near being hospitalized.

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

Thank you. That leads to my next question.

If, within a single payer system, that is, with the Province of Ontario OHIP still paying, would you support the development of private clinics with specialists to treat girls and women with eating disorders now?

[Carly Lambert-Crawford]

I would. I have two clients who I'm working with right now who are paying thousands of dollars a day to go to the States, because we have nothing here.

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

You would. Thank you.

I first met this lady years ago. I think it's Danielle's mother who runs Danielle's Place in Burlington. Is that right? Danielle's story was just like yours, right?

Joseph Brant Hospital basically kicked her out because she wasn't eating. The nurses blamed her for her own illness. Are you saying that could still happen now?

[Carly Lambert-Crawford]

Absolutely, yes.

[The Chair, NDP, Hélène LeBlanc]

Thank you very much, Mr. Young.

Ms. Sellah, you have five minutes.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

First of all, I would like to thank our two witnesses for having shared their different experiences with us. One of them took care of her daughter, while the other is a survivor of anorexia nervosa.

I would like to mention that I am a health professional. I agree with you because after hearing from many witnesses who have appeared before our committee, we have understood that the health system has many shortcomings in terms of medical resources, infrastructure and family support.

I am also troubled by the fact that when people suffer from eating disorders, they are put on a waiting list before receiving treatment. I believe that is a problem that all levels of government should examine and try to solve.

In the medical field, there have always been diseases that resist diagnosis, such as depression for example. In the past, people who did not show up for work were simply called lazy. No one realized that they were suffering from a physical illness, like diabetes, which required treatment, support and follow-up.

In the case of people who don't have the necessary resources to pay for treatment in a private clinic and who don't have a mother who is as devoted as Ms. LaBorde who took care of her daughter, what should be done? I would like to hear your opinion on what the different levels of government could do to improve this situation so that other people do not have to go through the same process you went through.

My question is for both of you.

[Carly Lambert-Crawford]

I think that's a really loaded question.

To answer the first part of your question, if you can't afford therapy and there's nowhere for you to go, you get sicker. I think Lisa raised a really good point in that you have to have early intervention, and it's during that time when you get diagnosed that, if you're not doing anything, you get sicker. I'm an example of that; Lisa's daughter is an example of that. It happens all the time. That's why our system is broken. There is no simple way to put it.

People go home from the doctor's appointment and they think, “I'm not sick enough,” and then they spiral.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Ms. LaBorde, do you have something to add on this subject?

[Lisa LaBorde]

No, I agree with that. I think early intervention is key. I think supporting the community to be able to support the families.... We're seeing presentation in younger and younger children, but I also wonder if that's a matter of its being caught and addressed earlier. Some of it is to ensure children don't languish at subpar health for a very long time. Yes, support community resources.

[Djaouida Sellah, NDP, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Ms. LaBorde, when you told us how you took care of your daughter, I was very surprised. I congratulate you for your sacrifice and for having had the courage to quit your job and to take on debt. I assume that you took on this fight by yourself and without the means to try to save your daughter.

In your opinion, what would you have liked the community or various governments to do for your daughter or for you as a caregiver?

[Lisa LaBorde]

I think part of the reason I had to do this is she was acute by that point. That was nine months from when I noticed something was wrong.

Had my family doctor been able to provide me with information earlier on, I may not have had to take time off work. I may have been able to address the issue in a much easier way, but we were some eight or nine months along in the illness. I think that is an example of what happens when you leave it too long. The cost to the individual, the cost to the family, the cost to the taxpayers is much higher. I think supporting me earlier on would have been beneficial to us all.

[The Chair, NDP, Hélène LeBlanc]

I would like to thank the witnesses for being with us today. You have greatly enriched our study.

We will suspend for a few moments so that we can go in camera to discuss the committee's future work.

Thank you very much again, ladies.

[Proceedings continue in camera]