OTTAWA, April 3, 2008 — The Interim Ombudsman for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces, Mary McFadyen, released a special report Thursday, April 3, entitled Reserved Care: An Investigation into the Treatment of Injured Reservists. The investigation marks the Office's first systemic investigation involving Canada's Reserve Force.
The investigation was launched in 2006 following complaints from Canadian Forces Reserve members who indicated that different standards of health care were applied to those injured while serving Canada.
After receiving extensive input from almost 400 people (the majority of whom were Reservists) and examining hundreds of documents, Ombudsman investigators found that Reservists from across the country who are injured in the course of their duties face a host of challenges in accessing timely, adequate and ongoing medical care that Regular Force members do not.
“In return for their commitment to train and serve their country, military members rightfully expect to receive the best care possible when they are injured or become ill as a result of their service,” said Ms. McFadyen.
She added, “Double standards – one for the Regular Force and another for the Reserve Force – are not fair to anyone. “In fact, I believe it constitutes a significant inequity in Canada’s military.”
The Interim Ombudsman noted that these problems have existed for decades, despite some attempts by the Canadian Forces to get control of the day-to-day issues plaguing Reservists and health care providers.
The investigation identified four major areas of concern, including significant inequities in the provision of health care to injured Reservists. Overall, the quality and quantity of medical care provided to Reservists is largely unpredictable, with some Reservists receiving no medical care at all from the Canadian Forces.
Investigators found various reasons for Reservists to be denied military care, including because the injury is a result of events other than performance of duty, such as fitness training, and because wording in policies is confusing and inconsistently applied by medical authorities.
The Office also identified significant inequities in the benefits provided to Reservists. The limb of a Reservist is worth the same as that of a Regular Force member, yet certain Reservists receive only 40 percent of the amount of accidental dismemberment benefits.
Another matter of concern involves inconsistent standards in the areas of periodic health assessments, immunizations, the treatment of injuries resulting from fitness training, and the handling and storage of medical records.
Despite the fact that both Regular and Reserve Force members may be exposed to the same risks, a number of Reservists do not have current medicals on their file, nor do they receive periodic health assessments and routine immunizations from the Canadian Forces. This means that members could be sent on missions or training in Canada with inadequate screenings and protection, resulting in risks to their well-being and that of others.
Additionally, investigators found that Reserve units lack the resources and training to conduct the administration they are mandated to perform, resulting in inadequate support to injured Reservists and their families.
“It became obvious during the course of this investigation that the policies that dictate medical entitlements are obscure, complex and confusing,” said Ms. McFadyen.
“The result is that the care being provided to Reservists by Canadian Forces health care providers varies – even for similar injuries – from full and continuing treatment to no treatment at all. This is unacceptable.”
In releasing Reserved Care, the Interim Ombudsman made 12 recommendations to the Minister of National Defence, which are intended to ensure that all members of Canada’s Reserve Force are treated fairly.
A complete list of the recommendations, and additional information on the Office of the Ombudsman’s special report, can be found on the Office’s website at: www.ombudsman.forces.gc.ca.
For additional information, please contact:
Michelle Laliberté A/Director of Communications Office of the Ombudsman Tel.: 613-995-8643
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