SUNDAY April 21, 1996 ean ah tka ak MN lt ny at PL Lge AS wa CLOUT Canada’s Lurgest Independent Investment Firm. MIDLAND WALWYN BLUE CHIPS THINGING™ Rn wa Nene gs anaes hospital deficit BY IAN NOBLE News Reporter LIONS GATE Hospital’s new cook-chill food system, implemented to save money, | may actually cause the hos- | pital to run a deficit for the 1995-96 fiscal year, which ended March 31. Hospital chief operating officer | Lynette Best told the News that Lions Gate and Burnaby Hospital, where the food is cooked and chilled for trans- portation to Lions Gate, are in media- tion to decide whose interpretation of § the cost-sharing agreement will prevail. Best said Lions Gate understood it would pay the incremental difference between the total food cost and the cost to Bumaby of preparing its food. Burnaby, she said, thought the two hos- pitals would share the costs. Although Best could not provide an exact figure for the difference in the two interpretations, she said it is less than a $1 million but more than several hun-- dred thousand. The effect of the mediators decision must be put in perspective, she said, adding that the hospital has a $105-mil- lion budget. “1 think the hospital has done a won- derful job of balancing the budget this year if this makes the diffetence,” she said. Originally the cook-chill method was instituted at Lions Gate to save $1 million a year. Best said Lions Gate has followed a path of tight fiscal management, includ- ing staff reductions, to meet its budget the past few years. Because of its out- dated kitchen equipment, Lions Gate was paying more for food preparation than hospitals with more modern kitchens. Best said Burnaby received a grant to improve its kitchen. With further ren- ovations and the modem “cook-chill” method of food preparation, it) was decided that Burnaby could also cook for Lions Gate, saving Lions Gate kitchen renovation and staffing costs. The — previncial = government approved a $4-million loan for Lions See Cost page @ NEWS photo Mike Wakotield Bookish fellow NORTH SHORE Recycling Program volunteer Sam Millar is up to his neck in his work. North Shore residents are encouraged to recycle phone books at drop-off bins located at the West Vancouver recreation centre, Westview, Lonsdate and Lynn Valley Safeway stores and the Parkgate library. Inquest hez BY ANNA MARIE D'ANGELO News Reporter PSYCHIATRIST HASSAN Azim testified on Thursday that Ben Wight was afraid of being “incar- cerated and forcibly treated” for his undiagnosed mental illness less than two days before he committed suicide. “Based on my clinical assessment, | felt that f had no reason to treat him against his wish.” said Azim. The psychiatrist came to his conclusion about Wight’s condition about six hours after the 21- yeas-old North Vancouver man tied to kill him- self by drinking gasoline and overdosing on his girlfriend's sleeping pills. Azim took the stand on the second day of an inquest into Wight’s death on April 19, 1995. The Burnaby inquest examined the circum- stances of the suicide, Five inquest jurors will make recommendations so that similar deaths may be prevented, An inquest does not assign blame. Azim discharzed Wight from a psychiatric ward of Lions Gate Hospital (LGH). He was released six hours after emergency ward Dr. Michae! O'Neil forced Wight to stay in hospital under the provincial Mental Health Act. fn the previous few months, Wight contended that he had to die to keep family members from disaster. He believed his girlfriend aad Melanie Carpenter were connected, The two had long blond hair. Azim timed Wight loose against the wishes of the mentally HT man's shocked and concerned Weather Monday: Rain, windy, High 15°C, low 7°C. reaction to light station change Point Atkinson cut sinks in deep BY JAN NOBLE News Reporter THE DEEP foghorn baritone rolling across West Vancouver and Burrard Inlet may soon be as much of a memory as the lightkeepers at Point Atkinson. Don Graham, Point Atkinson light- keeper and vice-president of the provin- cial lightkeepers union, said the removal of the air chime foghorns and replace- ment with electric horns “constitutes a needless desecration of a national historic site.” North Vancouver District Coun. Janice Harris agrees. She believes the air chimes should be retained and all “historical” 1912 fittings should remain on site so that eventually the lighthouse can be convert- ed from a working lighthouse to a muse- um and interpretive centre. “The heavy-handed and unnecessary decision to not only remove the air chime foghorns but to strip the Point Atkinson lighthouse of other heritage fixtures should be vehemently opposed by this and other North Shore councils.” said Harris in a report to district councillors. Hold on, said Coast Guard communi- cations officer Micheline Brodeur. The feds have committed to leaving the fix- tures in place for two years. They are reviewing whether to install the electron- ic foghorns, which sound like a sick cow, said Brodeur, See Foghorn page $ coctor family and friends. At the inquest, B.C. Schizophrenia Society lawyer Karen Jamieson questioned Azim about his repeated use of the word “incarcerated” in association with forced mental treatment. Said Jamieson, “He was detained under the provisions of the Mental Health Act and that was for treatment. It is not for punishment.” “Yes.” said Azim. Azim said that Wight was adamant that he did not want to stay in the haspital. To force treatment would have meant that security guards had to subdue Wight and the nursing staff inject him with drugs. “To put it mildly, itis a traumatic experience.” said Azim. “Te might interfere with a patient's ability to trust care stivers in the future.” See Lawver page 3