Gaétan Barrette OKs extra paid baths if there's no conflict of interest
Barrette says patients can pay for extra baths, so long as they're not paying CHSLD workers
Quebec's minister of health says it's okay for patients in long-term care facilities to pay an outside agency for extra baths, but the practice of "black market baths" must end.
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Last week, Gaétan Barrette sent a province-wide directive to health care workers, saying they can no longer take payment under the table to give additional baths or showers.
In some CHSLDs, orderlies were returning outside of work hours to bathe patients.
On Tuesday, Barrette said it's fine for patients to pay for an extra bath, but there cannot be a conflict of interest between the CHSLD and the care provider.
Critics said the practice shows there's a need for patients to receive a second bath, but Barrette disagreed, saying it's not always clinically necessary.
"Are we to force patients in a shower or bath if he or she is agitated because someone in the news said we need a bath?" he said.