FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2015
ADVISORY: OFL, Injured Workers & Medical Professionals Release Whistleblower Report Exposing WSIB Interference in Medical Care
(TORONTO, ON) ─ The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) and the Ontario Network of Injured Workers’ Groups (ONIWG) released a whistleblower report today to expose interference on the part of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) in the medical care of injured workers.
At a Queen’s Park media conference hosted by the OFL and ONIWG, medical professionals will come forward to raise alarm about the WSIB’s management of medical care and medical evidence as it relates to WSIB benefits recipients. They will also share stories about the WSIB’s failure to heed medical advice regarding readiness to return to work, insufficient treatment, blaming ‘pre-existing’ conditions for ongoing illness, and using independent medical reviews which proclaim patients to be healed, despite the evidence of treating practitioners. The net effect is a system that re-victimizes the very injured workers it is mandated to compensate and protect .
WHAT: Media Conference with Medical Professionals
WHEN: Thursday, November 5 at 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: Queen’s Park Media Studio, Toronto
WHO: OFL Secretary-Treasurer Nancy Hutchison and Registered Psychologists, Dr. Keith Klassen and Dr. Giorgio Ilacqua
The full report, called “Prescription Over-Ruled: Report on How Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Systematically Ignores the Advice of Medical Professionals,” can be downloaded in advance of the media conference at this link: http://beta.floating-point.com/ofl/wp-content/uploads/2015.11.05-Report-WSIB.pdf
The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. For information, visit www.OFL.ca and follow the OFL on Facebook and Twitter: @OFLabour.
-30-
For further information:
Joel Duff, OFL Communications Director: 416-707-0349 or jduff@ofl-org.flywheelsites.com *FRENCH/ENGLISH*
