An Edmonton resident is demanding answers about Alberta's emergency medical response after experiencing what he describes as a harrowing situation: severe bleeding from surgical complications, followed by a suggestion to hail a cab rather than wait for an ambulance.
Bruce Tuchsen underwent knee replacement surgery on May 11. The following Friday evening, after returning home from visiting friends, he accidentally struck his knee against a nightstand. The impact caused his surgical wound to rupture catastrophically.
"Tons of blood. It was really horrific. The knee literally exploded," Tuchsen recounted to media outlets on Friday.
When his partner dialled 911 to report the emergency, the dispatcher delivered startling news: an ambulance could take up to six hours to arrive, or alternatively, a non-emergent assessment team could respond in approximately one hour. A third option was presented—take a taxi to the nearest emergency department.
"What would have happened if I bled out in the cab?" Tuchsen asked in frustration.
Faced with active, heavy bleeding, Tuchsen and his partner made a split-second decision. They wrapped the wound in towels and took a taxi to hospital. Upon arrival at the emergency department, Tuchsen bypassed triage entirely and was seen immediately by a physician.
Medical assessment revealed that his surgical incision had failed to heal properly. Pressure had built up inside the wound until it ruptured violently. Tuchsen underwent a second surgery the following morning to address the complication. He reported that the injury and significant blood loss left him in shock.
Questions About Ambulance Availability
Tuchsen's experience has raised serious questions about emergency response capacity across Alberta. "I'd like to know where all the ambulance drivers were. Are we that short? If we're that short, let's change that," he said.
Dr. Raj Sherman, an emergency room physician in Edmonton who has been vocal about the strain on Alberta's healthcare system, confirmed that situations like Tuchsen's are far from isolated. "As a result, your waiting room's packed with sick people whose care is delayed, and the whole EMS fleet ends up stuck in emergency, because they can't just put people on the floor and leave," Sherman explained.
Taxi Program Continues Despite Controversy
Alberta has authorized the use of alternative transportation—including taxis—for patients assessed as non-emergent since December 2022. The province says the measure is designed to reduce strain on ambulance services.
ALTA Paramedic Health, the agency overseeing emergency medical services in the province, states that alternative transportation is only offered when patients are assessed as low acuity, stable, and not requiring paramedic care or stretcher transport.
A shared response system launched in 2023 allows some 911 callers to be redirected to Health Link 811 for assessment and appropriate care routing. In a recent seven-day reporting period, more than 900 low-acuity events were assessed, with many directed to alternative care pathways. Of 150 alternative transport outcomes, 65 involved taxi transportation, the agency reported.
However, Tuchsen's case raises the critical question: are assessment protocols correctly identifying truly emergent situations, or is cost-cutting driving decisions that put vulnerable patients at risk?
This article is based on reporting by Global Calgary's Samantha Goldstein. Read the original story at Global News.