News Releases - 2003

July 20, 2003

West Park Healthcare Centre announces death of staff member

Toronto - Once again the flag has been lowered to mark the passing of a health care worker who has died due to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). With deep sadness, West Park Healthcare Centre confirmed today that one of its registered nurses, who had worked in the centre's SARS unit, has died of the disease.

"West Park was informed yesterday that Tecla Lin, who worked in West Park Healthcare Centre's SARS unit in March, passed away at William Osler Health Centre on Saturday morning, " said Barry Monaghan, president & CEO of West Park. "On behalf of the Board of Directors, management, staff and physicians, I extend deepest condolences to her sons and family and to all those who knew and worked with her. Ms Lin's death, like the death of her spouse in April, profoundly grieves everyone who has worked around the clock during the SARS outbreak to fight this terrible and previously unknown disease."

One of the first health care professionals to step forward to care for colleagues with SARS who had been transferred to West Park, Ms Lin is the second health care worker in Ontario to die of SARS.

The centre requests that the media acknowledge that it is a difficult time for all at West Park Healthcare Centre and asks they respect the family's and centre staff's need for privacy while they grieve this loss.

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For more information, please contact:

Sandra Fawcett, Director, Public Relations
Phone: (416) 243-3730
Email: sandra.fawcett@westpark.org