N.W.T. orders review of Hugh Papik’s case after niece says stroke victim was treated as drunk

The Government of the Northwest Territories now says it is launching an external investigation into the care received by an Aklavik elder who had a massive stroke, but whose niece says he was mistaken for drunk by health staff.

Hugh Papik, 68, later died from the effects of the stroke.  

• Inuvialuit woman says uncle’s stroke mistaken for drunkenness

His niece Maggie Papik said that when he was found earlier this month on the floor of his room at an elder’s home, staff there said her uncle was drunk. Papik brought him to the community’s health centre where she says nurses told her the same thing. He wasn’t medevaced to Inuvik for six hours.

Doctors later told her that her uncle had had a massive stroke and was brain dead.

The N.W.T. Department of Health and Social Services initially told CBC News that it had looked into the matter and was confident that “appropriate clinical practices were followed.”

Late Tuesday, Health Minister Glen Abernethy announced there will be an outside investigation into what happened to Papik.

Abernethy said he is deeply concerned about the accusations of the care the elder received.

Maggie Papik said she is happy there will be an investigation but that she’s disappointed something like this had to happen before any changes are made.

There is no word yet on who will conduct the external review or when it will begin.