Dr. Kaitlin Stockton, an emergency room physician, has filed a $500,000 lawsuit against B.C.'s Fraser Health Authority, alleging a rapid decline in conditions at Royal Columbian Hospital and Eagle Ridge Hospital since October 2017, leading to 'increasingly unsafe and substandard patient care,' preventable deaths, and violent attacks on staff. She claims her job was threatened after she and other doctors posted a sign warning patients of dangerous ER delays. While other doctors support her advocacy, Fraser Health and the B.C. Health Minister have declined to comment on the specifics of the ongoing legal matter.
Preventable deaths, violent attacks: doctor alleges deteriorating conditions at Fraser Health hospitals
CBC Metro VancouverFraser Health whistleblowerHospital safetyBritish ColumbiaNew WestminsterPort MoodyFraser HealthFraser Health AuthorityDr. Kaitlin StocktonLawsuitsHealthEmergency care
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Dr. Kaitlin Stockton, an emergency room physician, has filed a $500,000 lawsuit against B.C.'s Fraser Health Authority, alleging a rapid decline in conditions at Royal Columbian Hospital and Eagle Ridge Hospital since October 2017, leading to 'increasingly unsafe and substandard patient care,' preventable deaths, and violent attacks on staff. She claims her job was threatened after she and other doctors posted a sign warning patients of dangerous ER delays. While other doctors support her advocacy, Fraser Health and the B.C. Health Minister have declined to comment on the specifics of the ongoing legal matter.
Trending- 1 October 2017: Kaitlin Stockton began working at Royal Columbian Hospital and Eagle Ridge Hospital.
- 2 Past two years: Rapid decline in hospital conditions, leading to unsafe patient care.
- 3 Nov. 18, 2024: Stockton and colleagues posted a sign warning patients of ER delays at Eagle Ridge Hospital.
- 4 January 2025: A machete-wielding man entered Eagle Ridge Hospital ER and threatened a nurse.
- 5 April (recent): A large pit bull allegedly attacked a doctor in Eagle Ridge Hospital ER.
- 6 April 26 (recent): Royal Columbian Hospital allegedly denied activating a Code Orange protocol after the Lapu-Lapu Day festival attack in Vancouver.
- 7 Last week: Kaitlin Stockton filed a notice of civil claim against Fraser Health Authority.
- 8 June 2025: Montreal Economic Institute report found Eagle Ridge Hospital has some of the longest ER wait times in Metro Vancouver.
- Lawsuit filed against Fraser Health Authority seeking $500,000 for wrongful dismissal and damages.
- Allegations of preventable deaths and severe patient harm due to overcrowding and understaffing.
- Increased violent attacks on medical staff.
- Long emergency room wait times (routinely 10-14 hours).
- Alleged toxic work environment and fear of reprisal for speaking out among medical professionals.
What: Dr. Kaitlin Stockton, an emergency room physician, filed a lawsuit against Fraser Health Authority, alleging deteriorating and unsafe conditions in hospitals, including preventable deaths, violent attacks on staff, and a toxic work environment. She claims her job was threatened after she and colleagues warned patients about ER delays.
When: The lawsuit was filed last week. Conditions have rapidly declined in the past two years. The fateful shift where the sign was posted occurred on Nov. 18, 2024. The alleged attack at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival was on April 26 (recent). A machete incident occurred in January 2025. A pit bull incident occurred in April (recent). A Montreal Economic Institute report was published in June 2025.
Where: British Columbia, New Westminster (Royal Columbian Hospital), Port Moody (Eagle Ridge Hospital), Vancouver (Lapu-Lapu Day festival location), Metro Vancouver (where Eagle Ridge Hospital is located).
Why: Dr. Stockton alleges that Fraser Health Authority has failed to adequately address overcrowding, understaffing, and a lack of resources in emergency rooms, leading to unsafe patient care and a culture that silences medical professionals who speak out.
How: After requests for measures to alleviate overcrowding were denied, Dr. Stockton and her colleagues posted a sign warning patients of dangerous ER delays. Fraser Health allegedly retaliated by threatening her job and later constructively dismissing her. The lawsuit details systemic issues, including alleged failures to activate mass casualty protocols and address violent incidents.