Father hopes son's death during lengthy waiting for Swift Current ER spurs change

Bryan Line says it’s too late for changes at the Cypress Regional Hospital in Swift Current to make a difference for him after his son died in the emergency room in August.

Mike Line, 45, was dropped off at the emergency room on Aug. 19 after he had experienced trouble breathing that day.

“He went in because he was having shortness of breath, he was having trouble climbing even a flight of stairs,” recounted Bryan Line. After Mike Line’s heart attack five years ago, he had taken shortness of breath very seriously, going into the Swift Current hospital a number of times for help.

“He was in a few times (and) had no problems getting in except for this last time.”

Bryan Line says his son collapsed in the waiting room a few hours later from a massive heart attack. He died there.

Now Bryan Line and his family have been meeting with the Cypress Hills Health Region, which has previously told News Talk Radio that it is investigating Mike Line’s death to try and figure out how to prevent something like it from happening again.

The family met with the health region last Friday. Bryan Line says the family was told that the emergency room was dealing with two trauma cases when Mike Line came in.

“They told us about the rooms all being full and they’re going to do a lot of changes. They’re going to have another doctor on call. They’re gonna have more rooms to put patients into. But, you know, it’s just – I don’t know – a little bit too much, too late.”

Bryan Line says he knows of a woman who died in the same emergency room.

“They had a lady die there in the emergency department eight years ago. Why weren’t changes made back then? That’s what I asked ’em … and they says, that was under different circumstances. I don’t care if it was or not. Changes should have been made.”

Now Bryan Line is dedicated to making sure the health region is true to its word, and says he will be making sure it follows up on the changes told to the family.

News Talk Radio has left messages with the Cypress Hills Health Region for an update on this story. Dr. Ivo Radevski, senior medical officer for the health region, has said recommendations to prevent future incidents will be developed from the meetings and investigation into this situation.