TORONTO - Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory is renewing calls for an independent investigation into a C. difficile outbreak in Ontario hospitals and long-term care facilities.
Tory says the death toll is now pushing 200, with hospitals in Kitchener, Cambridge, Oakville and Simcoe reporting more than 30 new deaths attributed to the bacteria.
He says hospitals have independently disclosed the information and he urges the government to take immediate action to mandate reporting.
Responding to a similar request last week, Health Minister George Smitherman dismissed the idea, suggesting the government is doing enough.
Smitherman added recommendations from a recent coroner's inquest into 26 C. difficile-related deaths in Sault Ste. Marie are already being implemented.
But Tory said a commitment by the government to make C. difficile reporting mandatory at hospitals by the end of the year isn't good enough.
"Mr. (Premier Dalton) McGuinty and Mr. Smitherman are really disrespecting all the people who have been through this so far,'' said Tory.
"I think we owe it to the families of the 200 people we know of so far who have died to get to the bottom of why they died.''
