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Help Suzanne Aucoin
Sept. 19, 2006 - National Post
Cancer patient threatens to sue OHIP over drug costs
National Post Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Page: A8
Section: News
Byline: Kelly Patrick
Column: National Report
Dateline: TORONTO
Source: National Post
TORONTO - An Ontario woman seeking to recover more than $52,000 she paid for
intravenous cancer therapy is considering legal action if a provincial tribunal does not
decide in her favour. Suzanne Aucoin, 36, of St.
Catharines testified yesterday before Ontario's Health Services Appeal and Review
Board, the panel that handles appeals of rejections by the province's public health
insurance program, OHIP. "I was glad I got a chance to share my story," said Ms.
Aucoin, who was first diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 1999. In October, 2005, her
doctor recommended she begin weekly infusions of a drug called Erbitux, which was
not marketed in Canada. Her oncologist applied to OHIP for out-of-country funding for
Ms. Aucoin to receive the treatment in New York state, but OHIP rejected the
request on the grounds the drug was considered experimental -- despite being
approved by Health Canada -- and that it was available in Ontario. It was not, Brian
Cohen, Ms.
Aucoin's lawyer, argued. Ms. Aucoin spent $31,065.62 on treatments at a clinic in West
Seneca, N.Y., before Health Canada struck an agreement with Erbitux's maker,
Bristol-Myers Squibb, allowing her to receive the drug at a Hamilton, Ont., hospital.
She had to foot the $21,182.32 bill. In March, OHIP agreed to pay for the treatments at
a Buffalo hospital. The board will rule on whether she should be reimbursed for her
earlier costs. "If I don't get the answer that I want, which is reimbursement, then I will
take it to the next step, which is Superior Court with a Charter claim," she said.
kpatrick@nationalpost.com
Cancer patient threatens to sue OHIP over drug costs
National Post Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Page: A8
Section: News
Byline: Kelly Patrick
Column: National Report
Dateline: TORONTO
Source: National Post
TORONTO - An Ontario woman seeking to recover more than $52,000 she paid for
intravenous cancer therapy is considering legal action if a provincial tribunal does not
decide in her favour. Suzanne Aucoin, 36, of St.
Catharines testified yesterday before Ontario's Health Services Appeal and Review
Board, the panel that handles appeals of rejections by the province's public health
insurance program, OHIP. "I was glad I got a chance to share my story," said Ms.
Aucoin, who was first diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 1999. In October, 2005, her
doctor recommended she begin weekly infusions of a drug called Erbitux, which was
not marketed in Canada. Her oncologist applied to OHIP for out-of-country funding for
Ms. Aucoin to receive the treatment in New York state, but OHIP rejected the
request on the grounds the drug was considered experimental -- despite being
approved by Health Canada -- and that it was available in Ontario. It was not, Brian
Cohen, Ms.
Aucoin's lawyer, argued. Ms. Aucoin spent $31,065.62 on treatments at a clinic in West
Seneca, N.Y., before Health Canada struck an agreement with Erbitux's maker,
Bristol-Myers Squibb, allowing her to receive the drug at a Hamilton, Ont., hospital.
She had to foot the $21,182.32 bill. In March, OHIP agreed to pay for the treatments at
a Buffalo hospital. The board will rule on whether she should be reimbursed for her
earlier costs. "If I don't get the answer that I want, which is reimbursement, then I will
take it to the next step, which is Superior Court with a Charter claim," she said.
kpatrick@nationalpost.com