HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe 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
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FLOWER
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Phone 524-0132
DAY OR NIGHT
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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
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GODERICH 524-7241