Emergency physician Kaitlin Stockton is sounding the alarm over what has reached crisis levels at Fraser Health hospitals. She alleges that these deficiencies have led to dangerous and inferior patient care. Since October 2017, Stockton has been working in the emergency rooms of Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster. She also practices out of Eagle Ridge Hospital in Port Moody. Her accusations come at a time when barriers for patients to access health care are increasing. These are demonstrated by very high wait times and increased incidence of violence.
Last week, Stockton took a groundbreaking legal step. Today, they filed a notice of civil claim against the authority operating their local hospital, the Fraser Health Authority, in British Columbia’s Supreme Court. In the lawsuit, she’s asking for $500,000 for wrongful dismissal and damages. She argues that she experienced constructive dismissal after being coerced into quitting for sounding the alarm on patient safety. Stockton says the emergency department is at a breaking point. This became especially apparent on November 18, 2024, the day that staff would need to begin actively notifying patients of the lack of available resources.
As Stockton points out, the hospital setting has become “extraordinarily dangerous.” Patients spill out into hallways, the waiting room is overflowing. Without significant reform, she worries a reduced level of care may soon be accepted as the new normal by medical professionals.
Allegations of Constructive Dismissal
ABI executive director Kaitlin Stockton has filed a federal lawsuit. She alleges that she was forced to resign due to a hostile work environment and intimidation regarding her employment. She says that she tried to give patients advance notice regarding the worsening perilous state of the Eagle Ridge Hospital ER. As payback, the hospital administrators punished her.
“I was told I had ‘no right’ to put up the sign,” Stockton claims.
Despite these threats, Stockton and her fellow Commissioners stood firm. They put up a warning sign to alert patients to the lack of resources and long waits that they may encounter if they go in for care. This small but purposeful act received a flurry of local social media attention, leading to a story by two local television news stations.
Her lawsuit describes the working conditions at both hospitals as “unpleasant, undignified, and extremely unsafe,” with potentially dire consequences for patient safety. Stockton reflected on her experiences, stating, “Knowing you’re not providing standard of care to someone who needs it is a horrible feeling.”
Rising Violence and Patient Safety Concerns
Stockton’s safety issues extend far beyond understaffing and excessive wait times. She shines a light on an alarming increase in violent acts occurring inside the hospitals. This January, a machete-wielding man attacked the emergency room staff at Eagle Ridge Hospital. He then proceeded to threaten the life of a nurse, making for an even more treacherous situation. Such incidents, like the one above, are representative of the very urgent need for systemic reform within the hospital system.
Stockton’s worries are backed by a series of reports this summer that have painted a grim picture of emergency care in Metro Vancouver. A June 2025 report by the Montreal Economic Institute found Eagle Ridge Hospital had some of the longest emergency room waiting times in the area. Patients are frequently forced to wait upwards of 10-14 hours to receive care.
“Patients are dying while waiting for care. In my experience, and the experience of my colleagues, this is happening in B.C.,” Stockton asserts.
She underscored that providers have long called for resources to change their toxic workplaces. Sadly, their bosses have been dismissive of these asks. Even when we all just wanted to be helped, when we all humbly and pathetically begged and pleaded for assistance, none came. We knew we were doing harm as we saw patients coming into the waiting room in crisis,” she said.
Call for Change in Healthcare System
Stockton’s situation is indicative of larger systemic issues within the healthcare infrastructure that must be addressed immediately. Most importantly, she’s convinced that those on the front lines of patient care need to be free to express their concerns without worrying about punishment from hospital admins.
“Our emergency system is failing, and front-line providers are not allowed to talk about it,” she states.
The doctor is worried that if things don’t change, patients will keep “falling through the cracks.” She raised the need to empower frontline healthcare workers in British Columbia. They should be allowed to speak up about workplace hazards without risk of retribution.
“This is extremely common, this happens all the time. It happens to nurses and physicians, and this is why the public doesn’t have the truth about what is happening in our publicly funded hospitals,” Stockton explained.
Despite the many hurdles before her, she remains optimistic. She hopes her steps will help to increase public awareness and eventually improve the quality of care all patients receive.
