When 18-year-old Noah Oshinbanjo collapsed in November 2022, his family had no reason to believe they would lose him forever. Yet today, Ron and Tania Oshinbanjo are navigating a profound grief they believe could have been prevented if British Columbia’s healthcare system had responded differently to their son’s medical emergency.
“He was an incredible young man with his whole life ahead of him,” says Ron Oshinbanjo, his voice breaking as he recalls his son. “Noah should still be here with us today.”
The tragedy began when Noah, a healthy college student with no previous medical conditions, experienced sudden chest pain and collapsed at home. According to the family, what followed was a series of critical healthcare failures that ultimately led to Noah’s death just 48 hours later.
Upon reaching Victoria General Hospital’s emergency department, Noah reportedly waited over six hours before receiving medical attention, despite showing symptoms consistent with a pulmonary embolism—a potentially fatal blood clot in the lungs that requires immediate treatment.
“The triage nurse documented his symptoms but classified him as non-urgent,” explains Tania Oshinbanjo. “We kept telling them something was seriously wrong, but we felt completely dismissed.”
Medical records obtained by the family reveal that when Noah was finally examined, key diagnostic tests were delayed, and despite his worsening condition, he wasn’t transferred to intensive care until he suffered cardiac arrest the following day. By then, the damage was irreversible.
Dr. Michael Byrne, a patient safety advocate not involved in Noah’s case, suggests this represents a troubling pattern in BC’s healthcare system. “When emergency departments are overwhelmed, diagnostic errors increase dramatically. What we’re seeing are systemic failures rather than individual mistakes.”
The Oshinbanjos’ tragedy comes amid growing concerns about healthcare delivery across British Columbia. Recent data from the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council shows emergency department wait times have increased by 22% since 2019, while physician shortages have reached critical levels in many communities.
Provincial Health Minister Adrian Dix acknowledged the case in a statement, calling it “deeply concerning” and promising a thorough review. “Every British Columbian deserves timely, appropriate care. We must learn from these tragedies to improve our healthcare system.”
The family has since filed a civil lawsuit against the health authority and several healthcare providers involved in Noah’s care. Their legal representative, Sarah Leamon, emphasizes their motivation extends beyond compensation.
“The Oshinbanjos want accountability and systemic change,” says Leamon. “They’re fighting to ensure other families don’t experience this preventable heartbreak.”
The case has catalyzed grassroots support, with over 15,000 British Columbians signing a petition calling for emergency department reforms. Among the proposed changes are mandatory reassessments for waiting patients, improved triage protocols for potentially life-threatening conditions, and better communication systems between patients and healthcare providers.
“Noah loved helping others—it defined him,” says Ron Oshinbanjo, who now speaks at healthcare policy forums. “If sharing his story saves even one life, then we’re honoring his memory in the most meaningful way possible.”
As British Columbia grapples with healthcare system pressures and staffing shortages, the fundamental question remains: how many preventable tragedies must occur before meaningful reform becomes reality rather than rhetoric?
