This question is about workplace hazards on behalf of my wife. She works for Alberta health services as a homecare provider in Canada. Recently she contracted scabies (a skin parasite similar to lice) from one of her patients. shortly after exposure she went on disability due to injuring her back so was not working for nearly 5-6 months. she started showing symptoms about 2-3 weeks after going onto workers Comp (in the form of itchiness and rashes that started off minor and steadily got works over the next 4-5 months). The problem is... because the patient did not want it released that she had scabies, management decided to not inform any of the employees about possible exposure. Because of this, me and my wife struggled through this whole time trying to figure out what this mysterious rash was, we investigated all manner of possible alergies, numerous visits to doctors and specialists. We hired pest control to inspect for bedbugs or other pests due to a new mattress that was purchased around the same time her symptoms started. Hired a home inspector to check for airborne contaminants or mold. She then later returned to work after her back was healed... still dealing with the rash It wasn't until me and one of our children started having the same symptoms that we started looking into other things like viral infection... it was Finally diagnosed as Scabies and are being treated now... but wife was informed she shouldn't be caring for elderly patients due to it's contagiousness. It wasn't until she then spoke to her boss about her diagnosis that she was told in conversation that there were patients of theirs that had scabies and had known about this for many months. But the patients did not want their condition broadcast to anyone.
My wife has suffered with this intensely itchy condition and is covered in scabs and raw skin from constant scratching for months with very little sleep. As well as spending close to $1300 on professionals to check our house. I Feel her workplace was extremely negligent in not informing anyone of possible exposure.... Are they? I realize there is patient confidentiality involved... but should they not at least be required to inform workers/nurses about possible exposure without naming patients due to it's contagiousness?
I was furious when she told me of her conversation with her manager. I'm even wondering if we should be taking them to court over this, as she's been in agony for months where-as if she had been informed this could have been taken care of very quickly before it got so severe.
My wife has suffered with this intensely itchy condition and is covered in scabs and raw skin from constant scratching for months with very little sleep. As well as spending close to $1300 on professionals to check our house. I Feel her workplace was extremely negligent in not informing anyone of possible exposure.... Are they? I realize there is patient confidentiality involved... but should they not at least be required to inform workers/nurses about possible exposure without naming patients due to it's contagiousness?
I was furious when she told me of her conversation with her manager. I'm even wondering if we should be taking them to court over this, as she's been in agony for months where-as if she had been informed this could have been taken care of very quickly before it got so severe.
