One woman's petition demanding hospitals be held accountable for the care they provide is now in the Ontario Legislature.
Maria Daskalos helped launch the petition. Global National first aired Daskalos's story in December 2011. Her 92-year-old mother, Dimitra, passed away February 21, 2011 at Toronto General Hospital after almost eight months of hospitalization. The Daskalos family says it felt bullied by the hospital.
Dimitra was slapped with a hospital bill worth $18,238, for taking up an acute car bed for too long. She died after an infected patient was moved into her room.
"When we were going through this, I was so angry that there was nothing I can do," Maria Daskalos said.
After the story aired, Daskalos was flooded with calls from people across Canada. "They were all telling us their nightmares (at hospitals) that they endured," she said.
"It made our family realize that we're not alone...that other people suffered and it's about time that stops."
Tuesday marked the one-year anniversary of Dimitra's death. In her mother's memory, Daskalos and her family presented NDP MPP Peter Tabuns with the petition containing more than 5,300 signatures.
Tabuns wants provincial ombudsman André Marin to be granted permission to hold Ontario hospitals accountable. "He should be able to investigate problems in the health care system just as he investigates problems in other parts of the provincial bureaucracy," said Tabuns.
"We fund the health care system in Ontario, we fund the hospitals, they have to be accountable to the people of Ontario."
Tabuns reiterated his concerns in the Ontario Legislature on Tuesday afternoon. "Maria's mother was desperately ill and needed hospital care and she was treated like a bed blocker."
"No more daughters should be forced to come here (to the Legislature) for action. The minister should be forced to act."
However, Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews wasn't sitting in the house Tuesday.
Tabuns applauds Daskalos's efforts. "She has contributed to an awakening of consciousness on this issue. The issue of seniors being pushed through outrageous bills to get out of hospital bills that they weren't able to get out of."
Daskalos says reform is long overdue. "People are crying for help - crying - and they're shouting out loud. And by signing our petition and supporting it, they're sending a clear message: Things have to change."
With files from Jennifer Tryon
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