© CBC News
Greg Poirier was mistakenly sent home with a broken leg by the University of Alberta Hospital.
Canada, Alberta - What started out as a simple injury turned into something much worse, says Greg Poirier.
Poirier, 64, hurt his leg and foot when he fell down the stairs into his basement suite late Thursday night. He managed to drag himself into his apartment where he called a taxi to come pick him up.
He said he then made his way to the emergency ward at the University of Alberta Hospital, where he waited over four hours to be treated.
He said when he finally made it in, he was given painkillers and two nurses attempted to bandage his leg.
By then, he said, the pain in his foot was excruciating.
"I said: 'Girls, I appreciate your help but it's not helping - it's just making it more painful' - five minutes later I was released."
Poirier then took a taxi home. When he arrived, he was forced to crawl to his door and back down the stairs. When he finally made it inside, he collapsed on the couch and fell asleep.
Soon after he woke up, his phone rang. A woman who Poirier believes may have been a U of A hospital manager was calling.
"She didn't announce her name but she was extremely angry. She said 'you shouldn't have been released... you have to return to the hospital.'"
Although he was tempted to ignore the call, or go elsewhere, Poirier phoned Blue Cross and requested an ambulance to take him back to the hospital.
