After exposing the realities in some B.C. hospitals earlier this year, a settlement has been reached between an ER doctor and the Fraser Health Authority.
Earlier this year, we spoke to B.C. ER doctor Kaitlin Stockton, who, among other issues, revealed how unsafe and violent hospitals in the province can be for medical professionals. She filed a Notice of Civil Claim against the Fraser Health Authority.
Stockton was hoping for improved conditions in hospitals, revealing some shocking realities that exist behind the walls of B.C.’s medical institutions.
“Things had been deteriorating in terms of working conditions,” she told Daily Hive this June, adding that substandard care was becoming more normalized or accepted.
“That was obviously quite disturbing and distressing to all of us.”
Now, her dispute has been resolved.
“I am satisfied with the outcome,” Stockton shared on social media.
We spoke to Stockton following the resolution of the claim to see what changes could come from it.
“It’s been a bit of a wild ride, but I had a real outpouring of support from patients, from healthcare workers, advocacy groups and physician leaders across the country, all corners of healthcare, and it’s been quite overwhelming, but in a good way,” she told Daily Hive.
Stockton said that her story wasn’t unique because lots of people know what the conditions are like in B.C. hospitals, but she added that her story “really struck a nerve.”
“The censorship and bullying of healthcare providers is emerging as a national issue, and it’s in the conversation now of national advocacy bodies like the Canadian Medical Association and Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians.”
Fraser Health also put out a statement about the resolution of the civil claim, and it mentions its commitment to improving conditions in the workplace.
Please see the below statement regarding my lawsuit against Fraser Health Authority (1/2) pic.twitter.com/cgqGTGIQVy
— Kaitlin Stockton (@mdmama_) December 2, 2025
Stockton met with the B.C. Minister of Health, alongside others in the field, in October, and she felt that the minister was very receptive to some of the proposals.
“I feel heard. I feel seen. It’s a shame it took a lawsuit,” she said.
“I feel like I helped advance the conversation around harassment and censorship of healthcare providers.”
In the initial story, Stockton revealed some of the grave realities medical professionals are forced to deal with every day.
The civil claim noted several instances of doctors being verbally and even physically abused. It noted one occasion when a pitbull attacked a health care professional.
The civil claim mentioned an ER patient assaulting an ER nurse at Eagle Ridge Hospital last November. The nurse was left with a dislocated jaw, a concussion, and PTSD. The civil claim said that the nurse has been unable to return to work.
On Dec. 15, 2024, another ER nurse and ER physician were attacked by a patient at Royal Columbian Hospital. They tried to call for help, but no security personnel responded until after the nurse was assaulted “because they were short-staffed.”
We asked if Stockton faced any opposition in her advocacy, and she shockingly said no. No negative comments, no online trolls, nothing.
While Stockton couldn’t share the specifics on what changes could be coming, she did tell us that she’ll be working with the health ministry to implement them. She has formed a working group which includes herself and several other leaders in the field, including the president of Doctors of BC.
Stockton’s journey involved a lot of sacrifice as she told Daily Hive that the last several months negatively impacted her family. She told Daily Hive that her small children noticed mom being scared and mom and dad being stressed.
“But that’s also a huge reason why I decided to go public and speak up. I want to show them that it’s really important to stand up for what you believe in, and to stand up for yourself, even if it’s scary, even if it’s hard, even if it’s risky. And I want them to see that I struggled and suffered, and that I’m still happy I did it,” Stockton said.
“What you get in return is a lifetime of self-worth.”