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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1982-11-17, Page 3Injured seaman seeks compensation Family of five is on verge of bankruptcy Ken Vingoe off Goderich and his family of four are -caught up in a tangle of bureaucratic red tape that threatens to strangle their existence. Vingoe,30, has been living through a paradoxical and frustrating nightmare since an accident at sea in 1977 left him permanently disabled. While he is reconciled to the fact he is permanently disabled, he is left ,with little financial assistance and fears for the future of his young family. The paradox facing Vingoe is that while both the Merchant Seamen Compensation Board, a federal autonomous body, and the provincial Workmen's Compensation Board, recognize the permanent disability, each has consigned responsibility to the other or ignored the other's findings. In the meantime, Vingoe and his family are forced to survive on welfare and Canada Pension Plan disability pension totalling $537 a month. Vingoe is at a loss to explain the irony of the situation having exhausted most legal and appeal channels to secure a monthly disability pension. "If I was in a car accident I would be well looked after or even if I was the only one involved, this wouldn't bother me," he told the Star in the living room of his •government -funded house. "But I have a family and the future scares me. I'm only asking for compensation;" For Vingoe, the nightmare began in January 1977 when he was working on search and rescue with the Canadian Merchant Marine in the Maritimes: While on loan to the Kent Lines, teaching navigational procedures, he was dragged across the ship's deck during an operation and plunged 35 feet to a steel deck. As a result of the accident, Vingoe suffered frac- tures in both legs, his left leg was cut open from, the knee to ankle and he sustained sinal, neck and head injuries. While being transferred from hospital in Shelburne, Nova Scotia to Yarmouth, he required 13 pints of blood. Vingoe underwent a series of operations during the months he was confined to hosptial and for two years fought with the Merchant Seamen Compensation Board for compensation. The board subsequently recognized the, permanent disability of Vingoe and made an award of almost $16,000, oreight percent, which only covered legal and medical bills. Unable to work, Vingoe became •a licenced paramedic and an instructor in the' technicians program at Dawson College in Montreal. In 1978, defying doctor's orders, he came to Ontario to work with the provincial ambulance service but intense pain and fragile legs forced him to abandon a career' as a paramedic. Undaunted Vingoe accepted a job in Sarnia at.the Miracle Food Mart Store and while performing a job under the threat of severance. he fell re -injuring his Plan craft sale At the November meeting of the Hospital . Auxiliary held Monday November 15 in the Auxiliary room of the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital, a video cassette from Sunnybrook Medical Centre was shown. This gave information about emergency treatment for pa- tients with cardiac arrest and also treatment for chok- Mg victims. • Miss Shack spoke brieflx about the gift of life; an organ transplant. This topic was discussed at some length in Saturday's London Free Press. Many interesting articles, which have been hand made by Auxiliary members for the December 3 craft sale were shown. The sale of crafts and baking will be held in the Auxiliary room on Friday December 3, beginning at 2 p.m. The •hospital gift shop is well stocked with children's clothing and also many Christmas items. The next Auxiliary meeting will be held January 17, 1983. All ladies are welcome. —PEACHES -- (by the basket or bushel) *Pails of pitted Cherries *Plums *Apples *Pears *Honey *Apple Butter °Fruit Juices *Apple Syrup *Grapes Rock Glen FRUIT FARMS united S28-3644 Arlo WJ, Denorttme FLOWER SHOP Phone 524-0132 DAY OR NIGHT Agent for 24 hr. FILM DEVELOPING legs. More operations followed and Workmerls Com- pensation initiated a claim. In November 1980 he wrote the Merchant Seamen Board saying he was receiving a permanent disability pension. That board responded in June 1981 by granting Vingoe a lifetime award of $984 a month and Vingoe notified Workmer',s Compensation of the award. The Workmerts Compensation Board asked thatjn light off the new award he was required to repay 512,000 overpayment to the board because the disability resulted from an accident at sea. The Merchant Seamen Board also cut off payments in August 1981. For the past year Vingoe's life has been a treadmill of appeals, endless medical examinations and bills left unpaid. "I have to go to London for treatinent and I owe .5700 on a credit card just for gas. Last week I lost my fridge and freezer," he said. "After household bills are paid, I'm left with $234 a month to clothe and feed. my family. We're on the'verge on bankruptcy. Vingoe's permanent disability has been verified and documented by countless orthopedic surgeons. He suffers osteoarthritis in both legs and the trauma has led to degeneration of the colon. His prognosis is poor and because he is on a steady diet of strong painkillers, he is unable to work and has developed heart problems. Arthritis has led to the degeneration of the bone rnarrow in both knees and he hopes to have a knee-. joint replacement operation in Montreal, which may reduce some of the pain. "The risks are high because I've had two heart failures under anaesthetic and there's a 60 per cent chance of tetanitis gangrene setting in," he said matter of factly. 'gid may lose a leg but I have no choice." Ironically, while Vingoe has a Bachelor of Scinece degree, he cannot pursue the possibility of a desk job . because labour laws forbid people like Vingoe, consuming the amount and type of drugs needed, fror!n working. "I'm not asking for handouts just a decision from one of the boards," he said. "I was honest enough to say I was collecting from two boards an d was willing to pay back the money. Then they both stopped paying. I am only asking for compensation." Despite the medical evidence, indicating Vingoe is permanently disabled and unable towork, the Social Assistance Review Board refuses to acknowledge the permanent disability under the terms of the Family Benefits Act. Vingoe aas a burgeoning .file of letters and medical reports that merely grows in his attempts to seek fair compensation for the sea accident. Hisoptions are running out and while the Ontario Ombudsman is on the case, bankruptcy is an imminent possibility. GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1982—PAGE 3 THANK YOU To those electors who supported me 1 say "Thank you" for your confidence. To the mayor elect, reeve, and deputy \ reeve and to the councillors I extend unaffected best wishes for success. ERNIE FISHER Ken Vingoe,30, of Goderich, is permanently disabled but unable to secure compensation. His family, including his wife Pascale • and three children, Pension Plan disability pension and welfare. ( photo by Dave Sykes) Robyne 3"2, Kerri-Lee, four months and Jeremie, 21/z, survive on a Canada COMPARISON SHOPPING SAVES YOU MONEY AT... BL SUPER SAVE SUPERMARKET 524-9411 104 SHOPPERS SOUARE GooFoirH We reserve the right to limit quantities. Prices In effect till FREE DELIVERY ON WEDNESDAY WITH ORDERS closing Sot., November To, '02 or S2S.00 AND OVER while quantities last. FREE DELIVERY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS MONDAY THRU THURSDAY SOLO SOFT MARGARINE •49 1 LB: TUB FRESH HAMS SHANK PORTION 1 29 • LB. 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