BY TAMARA BELKOV
A Sudbury man sick and tired of getting the runaround, stopped
taking his prescription medications March 21 to protest 
what he says, is unfair treatment by the Sudbury office of the
Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).
ODSP is the provincial agency assigned to administer financial
aid, medical benefits and assistance to the physically and
mentally disabled.
"I'm falling apart off medication," says Raymond Boucher. "But
I have to do something to protest the way they are treating
me."
Living from one disability pension cheque to the next, Boucher
says his troubles began when his April pension cheque arrived.
He became concerned when he opened the envelope and noticed
ODSP had unexpectedly reduced the amount he normally
receives.
"They didn't tell me they'd taken something off. They said they
added $96, but they didn't," he claims, referring to a letter
sent to him by ODSP.
When Boucher contacted the Sudbury office of ODSP for help in
straightening out the mess, he says he received the
runaround.
Boucher told Northern Life that on March 21,  a senior
manager at ODSP told him that he (Boucher), "was not worthy of
help" and to stop calling the ODSP office. Boucher was advised
to phone his MPP.
Referring to his situation as life-and-death, Boucher admits to
having used "cocky" language over the phone.
"Ya, I got upset. I'm sacred... what can I say. If they do this
to me now, treat me like this, how will it be when I'm stuck to
a (dialysis) machine and can't fight for myself."
Boucher says he was told by ODSP that his physician changed his
diagnosis and that he was no longer entitled to as large a
supplement for food. He has since returned to ODSP to collect
the forms to resubmit them for a nutritional supplement and
confirm his doctor had not recommended a change to his
diet.
ODSP staff cannot comment on an individual's case because of
laws that govern an individual's right to privacy. According to
staff at ODSP Sudbury, in general, people on disability pension
rely on supplements that follow provincial guidelines and are
calculated by staff. While prescription medications are paid
for by ODSP, a pensioner may be reimbursed for the cost of
hiring an aide to escort them to medical appointments and the
cost of transportation and parking.
The province also provides financial assistance in the form of
a supplement of up to $250 per month for additional nutritious
foods as outlined in its guidelines.
The nutritional supplement is only provided if clients apply
for it and their conditions qualify under ODSP guidelines.
Clients must obtain  forms from ODSP, have their doctors
complete them correctly, including the diagnosis, and submit
them to ODSP.
The cost of buying the food is also pre-calculated. Staff at
ODSP says the province estimates what food items cost. Some
items that were once on the list of nutritious foods, such as
bottled water, are no longer listed.
Boucher is asking his supplement be restored to its previous
level of $147, a difference of $51 a month.
He says his doctor had already prescribed a diet for him, and
he had been on it until his financial supplement was reduced at
the beginning of April.
Boucher says maintaining his weight and watching what he eats
is a critical part of his treatment.
Boucher's body is unable to control blood sugar levels and
eliminate minerals (such as potassium) that are found in tap
water. Boucher eats a diabetic diet and had been drinking three
jugs of purified water a month for a total of $21.
Boucher was to start dialysis shortly, but now that he is no
longer on his diet and medication, he may not be well enough to
undergo the pre-dialysis surgical procedures scheduled for
June.
He adds he is grateful to his medical team at the Sudbury
Regional Hospital consisting of a physician, nutritionist,
nurse practitioner and social worker for all they have done for
him.
"My doctor wants to put me on dialysis and is trying to help
keep me alive. What's the point if ODSP is going let me die of
starvation?"
A spokesperson for the hospital is unable to comment on any
patient's medical care.