This Week’s Featured Success Story: Refugee Claim Accepted for Sick Child

A child became critically ill while visiting Canada with her parents. Upon seeking medical care, efforts were made by Canadian doctors to transfer her back to her home country for continued care. During these investigations, the family learned that the child would not receive necessary medical care in her country and would not survive. Not knowing what else to do, the family asked for Canada’s protection.

We were able to establish that her home country regularly provides medical care to people with her condition – so long as they are adults. Medical care is not provided to children with her condition because the doctors and medical system in her country are not able to provide the support required to children. The Refugee Protection Division accepted our argument, that her home country was able to provide the required medical care but chose not to provide this care to children, discriminating against children on the basis of their age. This child and her parents have been granted protection in Canada, where the child is already under the required pediatric care.