Liberation MS patients demand care

The husband of a woman who died of complications from multiple sclerosis is angry MS patients who receive provincially funded liberation therapy treatment in New York state are entitled to follow up care in Saskatchewan, but patients who pay for the treatment out of their own pockets are not.

"My wife had the same procedure and so have hundreds of other people in Saskatchewan and all we're asking for is the same thing," Vince Garland said Thursday.

For several years, his wife, Roxane, battled MS. The 37-year-old died July 22 from complications that included a bladder infection. Vince said the home care nurses were excellent, but he is frustrated nurse practitioners and doctors aren't part of the home care team. He said that would ease the process of getting lab tests and scans ordered.

The couple spent around $40,000 so Roxane could have two liberation treatments in Mexico in 2010 and one in California the next year. The couple didn't expect a cure, but Vince said it was worth the money because Roxane got relief from some symptoms.

Michelle Walsh, an MS patient who has gone to Bulgaria and California for treatment, is a friend of Garland and is advocating for improved treatment. She said by the time Roxane was taken to hospital and lab tests were done, she had developed a severe infection.

Walsh said those who have privately paid for the controversial liberation treatments have "been orphaned in the medical system."

"We have nowhere to turn to," she said.

Walsh is pressing the province to hire an endovascular specialist in Regina and Saskatoon to treat all MS patients who have undergone venous angioplasty, which the treatment entails.

Walsh believes the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan is "really holding the key to this because they're saying our doctors don't have to see you if they don't want to."

Bryan Salte, associate registrar and legal counsel for the college, couldn't speak about individual cases, but said: "The only thing we can address as a college is the expectation for physicians to provide appropriate care to patients."

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Liberation MS patients demand care