Urgences-santé, a Quebec ambulance service, has been held responsible for a tragic incident that resulted in the death of an 18-year-old man due to a severe nut allergy reaction. The service has been ordered by Quebec Superior Court to pay $442,000 in damages to the family of Nutin McFarland, who tragically passed away despite being close to a Montreal hospital.
McFarland, a healthy 18-year-old Innu man from the Maliotenam Innu reserve, had moved to Montreal to pursue his studies. He had a known allergy to peanuts and tree nuts. The fatal incident occurred while he was visiting his girlfriend’s father in Verdun, a suburb of Montreal, and consumed a tuna sandwich that triggered a severe anaphylactic reaction.
Despite the hospital being only 700 meters away, McFarland dialed 911 for help. First responders arrived promptly, administered emergency treatment including the use of an EpiPen and oxygen. However, the subsequent delay by ambulance technicians in transferring McFarland quickly to the nearby hospital or informing them of his condition proved to be fatal.
In a ruling by Quebec Superior Court Justice Jeffrey Edwards, it was determined that Urgences-santé’s negligence, failure to adhere to proper protocols, and lack of urgent action directly led to Nutin’s untimely death. The court highlighted the critical importance of swift and appropriate emergency response in such cases.
