Support o | grou joins in on drug issue By Jolanda Waskito Contributing Writer FORMER North Vancouver District councillor Joan Gadswy’s medical- negligence suit has perked the cars of a local watchdog group. - Gadsby is suing her former family doctor, Dr. Roderick MacGillivray, for allegedly over-pre- scribing her with sleeping pills, and tranquilizers. She claims she was addict- ed. to the drugs. The Benzodiazepine Action Group is ‘supporting her. ‘= “Iv’s -about anybody ‘who goes.to their doctor wing :a trauma“ or tress,-a- loss of a loved ‘one or job, and comes out with: a> prescription in -their. hands,” spokesper- son: Suzanne Zeviar of ‘North Vancouver, said. The gcoup is com- prised’ of “concerned individuals whose lives have~..been . adversely affected by. the inappro- priate : advice ‘and: aver- ‘prescription’ of. mind- altering, drugs, particular: : ‘| ly: benzodiazepine,” * said: -Zevi Cen, : .Gadsby’s case is part of an’ epidemic among all led: with: people ¢. emotional: and mental ‘stability has been directly: caused - by.. their |. docters’ _ * prescribing bits. People don’t have - access to. counseling," just “¢, Zeviar quoted a 1995, ly by: Dr. Nancy Hail; » wow: with B.C. Women’s. |” Hospital,::. which found- “thar. 30% ‘of North Shore - ‘women | over 60 were “being prescribed benzodi- sazepines. Twenty-three r cent. of all women in ‘are addicted to the ugs, the study said. ~ Zeviar blames a med~ ‘ical culture that relies too heavily on cheap, addic- tive. drugs to treat depression and related ill- nesses... a - “The: (present) system is set up only for drug pushers,” ‘she said. “The profits in drugs fund the medical system. What’s needed is counseling, get- ting enough sleep, eating ‘and staying healthy.” _The Benzodiazepine Action Group wants a medical regulating body like the B.C; College of Surgeons to investigate the prescription practices of all ductors. . : Zeviar hopes a finding in favor of Gadsby will set a precedent that will be heeded by the medical profession and resulr in more awareness among the public of benzodi- azepine addiction. Trial hears psych By Jolanda Waskito Contributing Writer FORMER North Vancouver District councillor Joan Gadsby’s over-use of sleeping pills and tranquilizers for more than 20 years was evident in tests con- ducted by a neuropsychologist, a B.C. Supreme Court civil trial heard Wednesday in Vancouver. Dr. James P. Schmidt, a specialist in nervous sys- tems, told the court he tested Gadsby four times between October and December 1995 and conclud- ed that her loss of memory, con- centration and cognitive abilities were “somehow related to over- medication. “A psychiatric disorder did not explain ‘the test results and there was no evidence of demen- tia,” Schmidt said. Gadsby, 56, is suing her for- mer family physician Dr. Roderick MacGillivray for lost income and damages caused by the effects of an addiction to benzodiazepines including Valium, Librium and Serax. She alleges MacGillivray over-prescribed her the drugs. MacGillivray denies any negligence or over-pre- scription of medication. He claims he informed “Gadsby testified she weaned herself off the drugs a quarter of a pill at a time. “It was the most frightening experience in my life,’ she said of her withdrawal.” Friday, February 28, 1997 — North Shore News — 13. Brain-tumor death of child brought initial prescription of drugs Gadsby about the effects of the drugs and warned her of the risks involved in using them. He says he also told her not to drink alcohol while taking the drugs. The court heard on Monday that in 1967 — shortly after the brain-tumor death of her two-year- old son on Christmas Day 1966 — Gadsby was first prescribed benzodiazepines by a doctor, now dead, recommend- ed to her by MacGillivray. MacGillivray continued pre- scribing her the drugs until June 1990 Gadsby testified she weaned her- self off the drugs a quarter of a pill at a time. “It was the most frightening experience in my life,” she said of her withdrawal. Schmidt was called to court as an expert witness for Gadsby on al Wednesday, the third day of the trial. He said Gadsby “had difficulty with over-activa- tion,” and he wasn’t able to identify any causes for her symptoms other than over-medication. Over-activation is the tendency to be too ener- getic, which affects the ability to perform tasks and work, Dr. Schmidt said. His inch-thick report on his tests of Gadsby was submitted as evidence. MacGillivray’s lawyer Jim Lepp, in his cross- examination, asked Schmidt if it was important to know a patient’s psychiatric histery to make a diag- nosis. Schmidt agreed. “In absence of a history, this person could be reficcred as having a bipolar mood disorder?” Lepp asked. “If I saw the test results blind, it would certainly be a diagnosis I would entertain,” Schmidt answered. Bipolar disorder is typified by a life-long pattern of mood swings and hyper-depressive states, the doc- tor told the court. “If you were told a patient had a history of bipo- lar mood disorder, it’s a hypothesis you would want : to consider?” Lepp asked. oe, “Yes,” Schmidt replied, “it couid be consistent -- with that if the history was well documented.”. - Lepp listed several doctors Gadsby consulted for ~ anxiety and sleeplessness between 1972 ‘and :1990, mostof whom diagnosed that she suffered from. ~’ bipolar disorder for her “typical patterns of mood / swings.”. : . Schmidt said he was unaware of these other doc- | |: tors’ findings. woe The trial continues. ~The District of North Vatrco What's Happening in Our District S Public Hearing on: Rezoning Bylaw Amendment and Subdivision. Contro] Bylaw Amendments ublic Hearings aré scheduled to provide an opportunity for Council to hear from those who believe their interest in property may be affected by changes to these bylaws, as outlined below. Date and Time: Tuesday, March 11, 1997, 7:00 p.m. Counci! Chamber of Municipal Hall, 355 West Queens Location: — - Road, North Vancouver, B.C. _ BYLAW 6933 BYLAW 6940 . Subdivision Control Bylaw, Amending Bylaw 56° “ Applicant. . The Corporation of the District of North Vancouver Subject Land: The Norwood Queens Neighbourhood (as shown on map wiv) Proposed To amend the Subdivision Control Bylaw to establish . Amendment: lot size regulations for those properties zoned RSNQ.. Purpose: . Subdivision Control Bylaw, Amending Bylaw 55 "Applicant: — Ron Schwenger and Carol Kariatsumari .. Subject Land: 1183 West Keith Road (Lot 16 (except the south 105ft.), - Blocks 31 &45, District Lot 552, Plan 4876) Proposed. _ To amend the Subdivision Control Bylaw to establish specific : Amendment: lot width, depth and area regulations for the subject property. _ Purpose: ‘Toallow for the subdivision of 1181 West Keith Road into two lots. BYLAW 6939 - Rezoning Bylaw 1072 Applicant: Subject: Land: - The Corporation of the District of North Vancouver Those single family properties, except those properties zoned RSMH, within the Norwood Queens Neighbourhood bounded by Montroyal Boulevard on the north, Lonsdale Avenue on the east, West Queens Road and West 29th Street on the south, and on the west, Mahon Avenue, Jones Avenue, and Westview Drive, as shown on the map to the right. Proposed Amendment: To rezone the properties FROM Single Family 7200 Zone (RS3)and Single Family 6000 Zone (RS4) TO Single Family Residential Norwood Queens Zone (RSNQ). Purpose: To establish new Single Family Zoning regulations tailored specifically to the Norwood Queens Neighbourhood. ilp + »ns who believe their interest in property may be affected by the above proposals will be afforded an opportunity to be heard in person and/or by written submission. Written submissions w itl be accepted up to the conclusion of the Public Hearings. These Public Hearings are held under the provisions of the Municipal Act. Copies of the bylaws, resolutions, supporting staff reports and any relevant background material To introduce new lot size regulations for the Norwood Queens’ Neighbourhood to complement the new Zoning Regulations. h Hi : AN Pe are available for review at the District of North Vancouver, Clerk's Office or Planning Deparment, Municipal Hall, 355 West Queens Road, Monday through Friday, except Statutory Holidays, February 26 through March 11, 1997 inclusive, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Dennis W. Back, Municipal Clerk, February 28 & March 2, 1997