It does sound like he has been dragging his feet on paperwork for a couple of years, despite several reminders. When his only response after years of reminders was “I need you to help me do it” and he had only completed the paperwork for 2 patients out of about 150, someone lost patience. Perhaps he’s too busy, but he seems to have had years to work out a way to get the paperwork done.

On March 29, 2023, Dr. Jennifer Russell, the province’s chief medical officer of health, reminded Marrero of the requirements, as communicated to all provincial physicians in a memo from acting deputy chief Dr. Yves Léger on Oct. 26, 2021, and to Marrero personally in a letter from then-health minister Dorothy Shephard on April 8, 2022.

“Staff have indicated that you have followed the provincial requirements of reporting such cases in only two instances since late 2021,” she wrote.

“It is with consternation that I read your letters dated January 30 and March 23, 2023,” in which Marrero indicated he had been following the cases of 147 patients, aged 17 to 80, some with “very advance evidence of neurodegenerative diseases,” including dementia, severe pain syndrome, brain and muscle atrophy, and some near death.