David Tait and Leon Swanson break down in tears as they find out they were swapped at birth at the hospital
Two best friends break down in tears upon knowing they are living with the wrong family after they were switched at birth, 41 years ago.
David Tait and Leon Swanson, both 41, faced the members of the media at a press conference, revealing they had been swapped at Norway House Hospital in 1975 in the province of Manitoba in Canada.
Swanson and Tait were born three days apart at Norway House Indian Hospital in Manitoba.
Swanson was born on January 31, 1975 while Tait was born on February 3. They were raised by different family after an incident in the hospital where they were swapped.
Last day, DNA testing confirmed that the two men, who live in the same small town of 5,000 people mostly indigenous from the Cree Nation, had been mixed up.
Upon hearing the news, Tait said he felt “distraught, confused and angry” after 41 years of living with a different family.
“I want answers so bad. It’s going to affect us one way or the other, I know that. It’s going to be a long journey,” he added.
Tait also said that he really thought that the people who raised him “would always be mom and dad, regardless” but he now he had “another brother, another mom and dad”.
This is not the first incident in the said hospital because in November, two other men who were close friends were also switched at birth in 1975. This was confirmed by Manitoba government.
The case of Luke Monias and Norman Barkman’s was the one which prompted Tait and Swanson to have their DNA tested. It confirmed that indeed they were switched in the same hospital.
Eric Robinson, a former cabinet minister of Manitoba who is helping the men said: “The federal government owes these people.
“What happened to them is criminal.
“We can live with one mistake, but two mistakes of a similar nature is not acceptable.
“We can’t slough it off as being a mistake. It was a criminal act.
“It’s something (the government) can’t sweep under the carpet. There are lingering questions out there.
“These two gentlemen are not the only victims. We have families who are deeply hurt by this. We have siblings … that are hurt by this.
Canadian Health Minister Jane Philpott said the case of Tait and Swanson ‘deeply troubled’ her.
She said: “Cases like this are an unfortunate reminder to Canadians of how urgent the need is to provide all Indigenous people with high-quality health care.
This is already the second “switching” case at the same hospital to be discovered in within a year.