The family of a six-year-old girl with autism that, for years was on a waiting list for government-funded speech therapy treatment, is getting some help from a renowned malpractice lawyer—who may even take the province to court.
"It is clear Charlotte suffered a prejudice, that her case has not been managed properly, the very long delay has been detrimental to her," lawyer Jean-Pierre Menard told CJAD 800 News.
The family turned to crowdfunding to pay for speach therapy for Charlotte Kuhn, raising about $6,000 last year.
Charlotte is also now ineligible to receive the therapy through the government program, now that she has turned six.
The government has long been promising an action plan on autism, earmarking $5 million for autism treatment funding in the 2016-17 budget. However, after a series of delays, it was not presented before the end of 2016, as Minister of Public Health Lucie Charlebois had advised it would be after it was not presented during the province's first-ever forum on autism in the fall.
Menard says the Kuhn family's case could lead to a class action lawsuit.
"We have a lot of information already, and we are assessing what could be the next step," he said.
He adds a class action lawsuit is also not out of the question.