by The news was upsetting for Dr. Fiona Mattatall, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Calgarys Rockyview General Hospital.
It made me really angry and frustrated, and as I sorted through where thats coming from, I realized its essentially coming from what I see my patients going through, Mattatall said, estimating she sees about 50 patients each week.
Theyve been changing a lot in their lives to keep themselves and their unborn child safe, and (Ive been) hearing the sacrifices that people are making for their families and for their neighbours. I think its been hard coming to terms with knowing as Albertans were being given restrictions and then the people who are giving them out are not abiding by them.
Mattatall worked early Saturday morning, and said she saw patients who felt extremely angry because they had altered celebrations around the holidays and foregone interactions with loved ones that would normally be an indispensable part of being an expectant parent.
Its extremely frustrating theyre not following the same precautions as the rest of Albertans to keep everyone safe, she said.
In mid-December, the province introduced strict measures meant to curb the rapidly rising spread of COVID-19, including implementing an ongoing ban on all social gatherings that lasted over the holidays.
Dr. Shazma Mithani is an emergency room physician in Edmonton. She suggested it was hypocritical for government officials not to follow the spirit of the rules while most Albertans give up Christmas traditions to adhere to public-health orders.
