A 46-year-old Sherbrooke resident who suffered from aching back pain deeply regrets paying $18,000 for an operation in Cuba that turned into a nightmare where he was poorly cared for and came back worse than before.
“It was the worst decision of my life going there,” admits Dominic Fleury. I’ve crossed Cuba off my list of life goals.
The 46-year-old man had suffered from back pain for almost 10 years. Despite heavy medication, he could not relieve his pain. As an automation engineer, he even struggled to work and take care of his home.
However, despite his condition, Mr Fleury was unable to have an operation on the public network.
Not serious enough
“I was told that my case in Quebec was not severe enough to require surgery. […] “I was tired of suffering and taking pills,” stresses the resident of Cookshire-Eaton, near Sherbrooke. I had heard good comments about Cuba.”
Determined to seek treatment, Mr. Fleury contacted a Quebec medical tourism agency and paid US$18,000 for his lumbar fusion surgery in Cuba. He underwent surgery in February 2020.
“I went all-in on it and lost my all-in,” he admits. They really broke me then. It was so bad.
‘Hellish’ night in intensive care, trouble seeing medical staff, terrible food, rationed medicines, lack of medical equipment: Mr Fleury faced all sorts of problems during his three-week stay.
Courtesy of Dominic Fleury
In Cuba, Dominic Fleury kept eating dry bread with cheese, accompanied by warm or hot juice.
Since he could not be accompanied, he was alone and had to communicate with a translator.
“I have suffered so much. The doctor didn’t come. […] I had to do what they said, I couldn’t even get out of bed,” the father laments.
After nine days, he was transferred to a guest house without even medical care. He had to take a taxi to the hospital for his postoperative care.
By the time he returned to Quebec, his condition had deteriorated and he was having trouble getting up. In addition, the man, who had lost 20 pounds, was left without any medical follow-up.
screws loosened
“I was left to my own devices,” he admits.
Luckily, a surgeon from the University of Montreal Hospital Center agreed to take care of him. Cuba’s postoperative X-rays showed all sorts of complications: rejection of medical devices and screws that tightened the rods or were too close to the nerves, the patient points out.
After a six-month wait, the man finally underwent two surgeries last April. However, the 40-year-old believes he had quick service because he was now a priority case.
“It is often said that the network [public] is not good, but I was lucky. We removed all the hardware I received in Cuba,” he points out.
Three months later, the man is continuing his recovery and is only taking three medications a day. He hopes to be able to return to work soon after a three-year hiatus.
“I really owe the Quebec system a debt of gratitude,” claims the man who advises against doing medical tourism in Cuba.
“It’s important to dissuade people from it, even if it’s for minor surgeries. If you don’t go there, there is no follow-up.”
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