I, for one, along with many People of the North Island are having a problem in holding onto our Doctor. We have sent letters to Island Health Authority, signed Petitions, talked amoungst ourselves and are getting no where fast. Island Health Authority in their Tyrantical, Dictatorial ways have both given and taken away Privilages from our Family Doctor. When and if we ask questions, Island Health will not give us a straight answer. They say words that they hope will placate us and give up the mission of keeping our Family Doctor. Many People are having a problem in getting a Family Doctor, and many Clinics are closing down due to Drs retiring; Island Heath in their infinite wisdom, seem to think it's fit to add another 1000 people or more to that list. 

     Doctor Armagon: if you see him, is tired and looking worn out. He has been battling Island Health for many years on getting the North Island proper care and attention. Whether it be getting Doctors in our area and keeping them here, to the Racism that has been shown to Patients, and I'm sure himself as well. Making sure that if we are sent down island for treatment: that we get it and properly. These are only a few things that he has been trying to correct for a long time. He is a Doctor who has listened, learned, and cared for the People of the North Island for 15 years and wishes to continue. When you have someone who wants to live in a town, work there, pay the taxes and continue to support an area: YOU DON'T kick them to the Curb. 

      We all know that Island Health has told him to turn over his Patient records in an allotted time frame. Well, as a Patient of his: YOU have to sign a paper stating that you agree to a Doctor recieving your records. in 1993, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled: Information on file belongs to the Patient, BUT, the Physical Record of that person belongs to the the person or organization responsible for it's creation:  Whether it be hospital or Physician (s) in Private Practice."  We all know that Dr Armagon bought the Practice from Dr Avery when he wanted to retire. Thusly, reading the legalese: ALL files at the Clinic, were then privilaged to the ruling of 1993 and owned by the Dr and Clinic. I'm sure that when Dr Armagon sold the Clinic to the town; they never stipulated in the sale, anything about the files. Island Health has NO authority to order those files of his patients to be turned over to them, unless as a Patient,  you sign a release for said file.

       I, have heard unsubstantiated rumours that Island Health is also taking away his rounds on Saturday at the hospital, here in Port McNeill. That was the only way I could see my Family Doctor, was to go through the ER to see him. I also understood if a "real" emergency came in; I would be pushed back to deal with it first. I'm sure that may others would have the understanding in such a case. Island Health seems to think that we are "clogging" the ER ( my  opinion only) to see Dr. Armagon, instead of using the Clinic. They are the ones who have brought this on; with holding a contract from him for the Clinic: but deem it a privilage; that they have given him Sointula, Woss and the outlaying Native villages to service. What is wrong with this picture?? Is the new Clinic  Drs in this town to lazy to attend to others in these areas? That is only my opinion and question, I have to ask out loud.  

      It's time for those of use who wish to keep Dr. Armagon as our Family Dr to stand up to Island Health and say "enough is enough". Get on with making sure that the North Island has proper medical coverage; be it Doctors, Nurses, and others that are needed to run a hospital, and make sure that they want to  stay here for a good length of time; No 3 year contract offered. "Do your job for which us, the taxpayers, pay you for: whether it be Island Health, Ministry of Health, our Town council."

Let's make our voices heard. Help stop the tyranny of Island Health.