The Fraser Health Authority has responded to a whistle-blowing lawsuit filed by an emergency physician in June — arguing the court doesn't have jurisdiction to hear the case.

Dr. Kaitlin Stockton filed a notice of civil claim against the health authority in B.C. Supreme Court, alleging physicians are witnessing rapidly deteriorating conditions in two hospitals, and claiming her job was threatened after she sought to warn patients that the situation in the emergency room had grown potentially dangerous.

The lawsuit also alleged the health authority has failed to respond to physicians' calls for help amid violent attacks, and sought to silence staff who spoke up about worsening conditions.

She claims a rapid decline in two Fraser Health hospitals has led to "increasingly unsafe and substandard patient care."

In a one-page jurisdictional response filed in court on July 7 and viewed by CBC News, the Fraser Health Authority disputes that the court has jurisdiction over the defendant and "submits that this court ought not to exercise its jurisdiction over the defendant."

Fraser Health said in a written statement it doesn't comment on matters that are before the courts.

Kathryn Marshall, a lawyer representing Stockton, said if not heard in court, the case would be dealt with in private arbitration.

"The issues being raised are issues that need to be tried in open court — they shouldn't be relegated behind closed doors in a private session. These are issues of public importance,...

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