Dominican Republic News

A Canadian man has filed a $10 million civil lawsuit against a Dominican Republic resort following the deaths of his wife and eight-year-old son due to alleged food poisoning. Stephen Gougeon, who filed the claim in Ontario Superior Court, alleges negligence on the part of Wyndham Hotels and Resorts and Air Transat, according to reports from The New York Post. The Gougeon family traveled from Toronto to the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham Resort just after Christmas in December 2023. On December 29, the family, after dining at the resort's buffet, fell violently ill. Stephen stated that their initial call for medical assistance was denied, despite the family's critical condition (CTV reported). After further pleas for help, medical staff arrived but were slow to respond, according to Stephen. The family was taken to a nearby hospital, where both his wife, April, 41, and son, Oliver, succumbed to secondary complications related to food poisoning. Stephen expressed disappointment over the resort’s inadequate emergency response protocols in his statement.

As gang violence escalates in Haiti, many Haitian mothers are seeking medical care in the Dominican Republic, attributing their choice to the deteriorating healthcare situation in their homeland. Cineas Lionne, a mother who recently gave birth in the Dominican Republic, voiced her distrust in Haitian hospitals, stating, “I don't think I would receive good care because of the government situation.” The United Nations reported that less than 25% of hospitals near Port-au-Prince are operational, with increasing violence impacting both healthcare workers and patients. A recent spike in violence included attacks on journalists at a public hospital, leading to the postponement of a planned reopening of medical facilities. Health care access in the Dominican Republic, while preferable for many Haitians, comes with risks. The Dominican government has deported over 200,000 Haitians in 2024, continuing to enforce strict immigration policies that put expectant mothers at risk of detention. Local authorities aim to manage the influx by deporting up to 10,000 individuals weekly. Haitian women often avoid prenatal checkups due to the fear of deportation, frequently arriving at Dominican hospitals in dire situations. The healthcare desires of these mothers clash with the political and social tensions that divide Haiti and the Dominican Republic.