Family of teen who died after waiting hours for medical care meets Ontario Health Minister

The family of an Ontario teen who died after waiting hours to receive care at a hospital say a Thursday meeting with the province’s Health Minister is a good step in their push for legislative change that includes standardized maximum ER wait times for vulnerable pediatric patients.

Hazel and GJ van der Werken, the parents of 16-year-old Finlay van der Werken who died in 2024 of sepsis and pneumonia after he waited for care at an Oakville, Ont., hospital, said they felt heard by Health Minister Sylvia Jones when they discussed their call for legislation entitled “Finlay’s Law.”