The death of Mélanie Jutras during surgery in Tunisia caused a pursuit of $ 1.8 million against Medcare Holidays, highlighting the challenges of medical tourism.
Mélanie Jutras, a Quebecer, who lost his life following bariatric surgery in Tunisia in January 2023, his family initiated legal action worth almost $ 1.8 million against Medcare Vacances, a Canadian medical tourism agency specializing in access to care in Tunisia, report, yesterday, 2024, the Quebec media, including TVA Nouvelles.
Mélanie’s decision to undergo this operation abroad stems from long waiting times in the Quebec public health system. However, this choice turned out to be fatal, according to the same source.
On January 11, 2023, the surgical process started early in the morning, but complications quickly appeared. In communication with her spouse who remained in Quebec, Mélanie reported an alarming distress. The following hours were marked by a series of tense communications, until confirmation of the worst.
The bereaved family has denounced several negligence, both from Medcare Holidays and the Ennasr Polyclinique, according to the statements collected by TVA Nouvelles. Incomplete medical documents and the absence of crucial preoperative tests are mentioned in their legal action.
Faced with this tragedy, the director general of Medcare Vacances presented his condolences, while specifying that his business did not have access to relevant medical data, as reported by TVA Nouvelles.
The file is now in the hands of justice, and Medcare Vacances has decided not to comment more, leaving the judicial process to follow its course, concludes TVA Nouvelles.
