Spectator story made him sick

Dear Editor:

I read with sorrow the story of Bill and Mary Boates who, at an advanced age, after having met up in the autumn of their lives, have been forced to live apart by the Nova Scotia Department of Health. (Elderly couple forced apart by red tape, Aug. 23, 2007) The ostensible reason being that it is "in the couple's best interest." Why is it that when someone makes a bad decision, the reason given is always that it is for the wronged party's own good?

It is patiently clear to anyone not a government employee that this is not "in the couple's best interest." These people are 90 years old! They need the love and support that only they can give one another, not some cold, unfeeling government institution. With the very best of intentions, staff at these places simply cannot see to the emotional needs of all their patients as they would no doubt wish to do. The same governments that make these stupid decisions have cash strapped these facilities severely, making it well nigh impossible for them to give the care the patients require and deserve.

Stories like this make me physically ill, nauseous to the point of being sick. And the offer of relocating these two people to Halifax, scores of miles away from friends and family, is yet another example of the idiocy that seems to have overtaken Nova Scotia's health care system.

I can't help wondering if a similar situation arose involving the grandparents of one of these decision makers, for example Valerie Bellefontaine, would the results be the same? I'd be very reluctant to think that in Nova Scotia it's a case of "different strokes for different folks," but you may draw your own conclusions based upon your own thoughts.

I guess it basically comes down to this: do we wish to live in a society that treats it's elderly in such an unfeeling fashion, for their own "best interests?" Or do we want some latitude in making exceptions based upon kindness and compassion? I'm sure that most of you who read the article were as horrified as I was. But if you don't speak out against this type of injustice, you set yourselves and your loved ones up to receive the same treatment.

Is this what you really want?

Clifford M King

Clementsport