A Vancouver Island doctor involved in setting up unsanctioned overdose prevention sites has resigned from her positions with Island Health, claiming she was placed on leave as punishment for her public advocacy work.
Dr. Jess Wilder, a co-founder of the group Doctors for Safer Drug Policy, says in a resignation letter dated Feb. 5 that she鈥檚 leaving her positions with Island Health 鈥渋mmediately.鈥�
Wilder says she was placed on administrative leave on Jan. 22 from her physician lead positions in harm reduction and education, and addiction medicine at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
She says in a separate letter addressed to colleagues at Island Health that she was placed on leave 鈥減ending investigation of alleged accusations鈥� related to her 鈥減ublic advocacy work,鈥� though it says she will continue her clinical and patient-facing work.
Wilder says the investigation is confidential and she directed questions to Dr. Ash Heaslip, with Island Health鈥檚 Addiction Medicine and Substance Use Program, and Dr. Randal Mason, the program鈥檚 regional medical director.
Doctors for Safer Drug Policy set up unauthorized overdose prevention sites at the Nanaimo hospital and at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria in November 2024, in an effort to pressure the provincial government to act on what the group says is an 鈥渦nfulfilled promise to address drug use in hospitals.鈥�
