June 10, 2025 

To Whom it may concern,

The BC Society of Emergency Medicine (BCSEM) represents over 750 practicing emergency physicians. We write in response to Dr. Stockton’s legal case, which highlights systemic problems that affect many of British Columbia’s Emergency Departments (EDs).

For years, the BCSEM has advocated for changes in our health care system to address unsafe conditions in BC’s emergency departments. These include ED overcrowding and access block, both of which result in the majority of emergency department care spaces being occupied by admitted patients who should be receiving care in inpatient units. This access block leads to delays in the placement and assessment of acutely ill patients, in some cases leading to suboptimal care, delays to treatment, and potential morbidity and mortality.

In addition, we have heard repeatedly from our members that their pleas to address safety issues resulting from access block and staffing shortages are ignored. This has led to strain and breakdown in the relationships between front-line ED providers and Health Authority leadership. In some cases, transparency, honesty, accountability, and professional communication are lacking; patients are often unaware of the challenging conditions that face them when they seek care in our EDs. Our members have reported instances of bullying and threats from their administrative leadership when raising urgent concerns about staffing, resources, or patient safety. This has resulted in moral distress and fear that is hampering retention and recruitment of clinicians, thus exacerbating staffing shortages and ED closures.

Without commenting on the merits of her litigation specifically, we support Dr. Stockton’s right to pursue her case through legal avenues if necessary. We support her dedication to advocating for high-quality patient care as well as a safe and respectful workplace for healthcare providers. We hope that this case will result in a productive discussion about these serious challenges which affect many EDs and ED staff, and we look forward to collaborating with provincial leadershipto ensure that these urgent issues are addressed with effective solutions in a timely fashion.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Braunstein, MD, CCFP-EM

Garth Meckler, MD, MSHS, FRCPC-PEM

Ben Tuyp, MD FRCPC-EM Co-Presidents, on behalf of the BC Society of Emergency Medicine