WHERE YOU LIVE SHOULDN'T
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Brayden's Law
Enabling equitable access to emergency transport
An amendment, proposed by Brayden's family, to BC's Emergency Health Services Act to close the rural emergency care gap — so that no British Columbian is beyond the reach of timely, life-saving transport.
Brayden Robbins, 2013-2024
THE PROBLEM
When minutes matter, rural BC is too often out of reach
British Columbia's rural and remote communities face a stark reality: when a patient becomes critically ill or injured, the emergency transport system often cannot respond in time. These gaps have been documented for more than two decades — without systemic resolution.
Higher rural mortality
Rural mortality in BC is significantly higher than in urban centres — a persistent, measurable inequity.
No way to escalate
Physicians have no pathway to escalate care when BCEHS resources are unavailable or delayed.
No backup capacity
There is no alternative provider when the system cannot respond — no second option, no backup plan.
20+ years unresolved
These failures have been documented for more than twenty years, without a structural fix.
10×
Rural patients in BC face up to a ten-fold higher risk of death following trauma than urban patients.
BRAYDEN'S STORY
A boy who deserved a timely chance
Brayden Robbins was an eleven-year-old BC resident who became critically ill in a rural community. His local emergency team did everything within their power. But when BCEHS transport was delayed, there was no alternative. There was no mechanism to escalate. There was no backup plan.
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Nikki believes Brayden did not die because his providers didn’t care; he died because the system had no way to reach him in time.
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​His mother, Nikki Robbins, has led the campaign for Brayden's Law — determined that no other family should face the same preventable tragedy.
“No family should lose a loved one because they live too far from a city.”
— Nikki Robbins, Brayden's mother
WATCH
Brayden's story, in his family's words
Hear why Brayden's Law matters — and why change can't wait.
If the video does not appear, watch it on YouTube: youtu.be/SQLwBmj4EfM
WHAT BRAYDEN'S LAW DOES
Three structural fixes
— built to work with BCEHS
Proposed by Brayden's mother, Brayden's Law targets amendments to BC's Emergency Health Services Act to address three structural failures in the current system. It is designed to augment and complement existing services — never to replace them.
1
Physician-initiated transport
Authorises BC physicians to directly initiate an urgent or emergency transport response when clinical urgency demands it — without being blocked — when delay poses a significant risk to life.
2
Nonprofit PHRM providers
Enables the Minister of Health to license qualified non-profits — such as Med Response BC — to operate as authorised Prehospital & Retrieval Medicine providers under defined clinical and governance parameters, working collaboratively alongside BCEHS.
3
Tiered transport pathways
Creates structured escalation pathways so there is always a timely option — Tier 1 scheduled/routine transfers, Tier 2 urgent medical transfers, and Tier 3 emergency response escalating to all available authorised providers for life, limb, or organ-threatening emergencies.
Built-in governance & accountability
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Coordination with the Patient Transfer Network and Emergency Coordination Centres
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Annual public reporting on transport times, outcomes, and patient experience
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An independent review body for adverse events
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Mandatory Indigenous partnership and cultural safety protocols
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Ministry-led evaluations at three-year intervals
WHY IT MATTERS
BC is an outlier
— and the evidence is clear
Comparable jurisdictions have already modernised their emergency transport systems by integrating physician-led interprofessional retrieval teams — with measurable results. Research across Canada, Australia, the UK, and Europe consistently shows these teams save lives, particularly in trauma, sepsis, paediatric emergencies, and other time-sensitive conditions.
Norway
Rural–urban trauma mortality gap: 1.4×
Norsk Luftambulanse's integrated model.
Australia
Rural–urban trauma mortality gap: 1.5×
Greater Sydney Area HEMS / NSW Ambulance.
Wales & Scotland
Proven survival benefits
EMRTS Cymru & EMRS — integrated physician-led retrieval.
Alignment with BC's own priorities
BC Rural Health Strategy
Operationalises the provincial rural lens in emergency health transport.
Declaration Act (DRIPA)
Culturally safe, equitable emergency care for Indigenous communities.
Health system sustainability
Reduces ER closures, provider burnout, and downstream costs.
TAKE ACTION
Ask your Mayor and MLA to champion Brayden's Law
Change happens when decision-makers hear from the people they serve. It takes five minutes — and it matters most coming from a constituent.
STEP 1
Find your representatives
Look up your MLA at leg.bc.ca and your Mayor through your municipality's website.
STEP 2
Send a short message
Email or write using the starter below — personalise it with why rural emergency care matters to you.
STEP 3
Ask them to act
Ask them to champion Brayden's Law and to meet with Med Response BC about gaps in your area.
A MESSAGE YOU CAN START FROM
Dear [MLA / Mayor name],
As your constituent, I'm asking you to champion Brayden's Law — proposed amendments to BC's Emergency Health Services Act that would authorise physician-initiated transport, enable licensed non-profit retrieval providers to work alongside BCEHS, and create tiered escalation pathways so rural British Columbians are never left without a timely option. No family should lose a loved one because they live too far from a city. Please raise this with the Minister of Health, and meet with Med Response BC to discuss emergency transport gaps in our community. Thank you.
— [Your name, community]