north shore news

P{EALTH

New guidelines issued

THE provincial gov-
ernment proclaimed
legislation last month
aimed at ensuring there
are clear rules and
guidelines for people
making health care
decisions for other
adults.

The Health Care
(Consent} and Care Facility
(Admission) Act and three
other related acts together
called adult guardianship leg-
islation will start to come into
law next February. Only por-
tions of the legislations are
planned to come into force ar
that time.

New str

A drug newly approved
in Canada for treating
people in the early
stages of stroke was
used for the first time
last Sunday at Lions
Gate Hospital (LGH).

LGH neurologist Dr.
Vance Makin credits the
prompt efforts of hospital
staff for allowing the drug to
be administered well within a
crucial three hours after the
first stroke symptoms.

A LGH patient received
the medication called 1-PA
{Activase) one hour and 55

According to the Ministry
of Attorney General, the
Health Care (Consent) and
Care Facility (Admission) Act
contains provisions that affirm
the right of aduits to make
their own health care deci-
sions and ro have those deci-
sions respected.

When an adult is incapable
of giving consent, procedures
are set our that allow family
members to give substitute
consent.

A public guardian and
trustee will make de :
when there is no one else

The act provides for a
review board for people who
object to health care ;
made on an adult’s behalf.

The other adult guardian-
ship legislation includes:
@ the Representation
Agreement Act which enables
adults to plan for a time when

they may become incapable of

making their own decisions.
Agreements can cov ali
aspects, of an adult's life
including health and p

care «as well as financial and
legal matters;

BW the Adult Guardianship
which promotes a community
response to

5
aeglect’ or self-neglect of

adults;
B the Public Guardian and
t which creates an
ory board and new pow-
ers for the public trustee.

é drug used at Lah

minutes after her stroke start-
ed. The 78-year-old woman
was in the LGH neurology
ward when she had the strok
Makin credits neurology
nurse Tracy Martindale in set-
ting up the drug treatment.
The patient, who was not
identified, had to have a CAT
scan immediately to ensure
there was no bleeding. She
also needed blood tests to see
if she was a suitable candidate
for the drug. Her blood was
drawn while in the CAT scan
area, said Makin. Makin also
credits Intensive Care Unit
nurses Nina Myrin and
Bonnie Donald for their work

in ensuring the drug was
administered promptly. The t-
PA worked as the patienr
became conscious, smiled,
and mentioned her dog's
name and her living will to a

tive. Unfortunately, the
woman subsequently suffered
another stroke, She died a few
days later.

T-PA is an anti-throm-
bolytic which acts to keep the
blood flowing through the
blocked stroke area. T-PA pre-
vents the brain from being
damaged. ‘T-PA only works in
blockage strokes, which are
the most common type.

—Anna Marie D’Angelo

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