Canadian Families Pressured to Sign NDAs for Medical Help at Mexican Resort

CANCUN, Mexico — Two Canadian families vacationing at a luxury resort in Cancun say they were pressured to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in exchange for medical assistance after falling violently ill during their stay. The incident has sparked outrage and an internal investigation by the resort’s parent company.

Allison Field of Saskatoon and Jesslyn Schigol of Saskatchewan recounted their experiences at the Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun, an all-inclusive resort charging upwards of $440 per night. Both families fell ill during their Christmas vacations, with symptoms including severe vomiting and dehydration.

“I felt held hostage,” Field told reporters. “I felt like they were stopping us from receiving care.” Field’s 4-year-old son was hospitalized for 16 hours due to dehydration after falling ill at the resort.

Schigol described a similar ordeal when her husband became violently ill. “The front desk presented me with this NDA and said, ‘You must sign this. This is a must or else we’re not sending the doctor to come see your husband,'” Schigol said. The NDA reportedly prohibited guests from holding the resort accountable or speaking publicly about their experiences.

Field said resort staff were reluctant to help her family leave for medical treatment. “My son was vomiting and vomiting and shaking and they wouldn’t let us leave, and [staff] just kept trying to get me to sign the NDA,” she said. “It was flagrantly clear that they really didn’t care about us or our health.”

Blue Diamond Resorts, the parent company of Royalton Splash Riviera, has launched an internal investigation. “We are currently conducting an internal investigation into the reports, and while we cannot comment further at this time, please know we are committed to addressing this matter with the utmost care and attention,” said Alejandro Rodríguez del Peón, vice-president of marketing and public relations for Blue Diamond Resorts.

The company maintains that its resorts meet or exceed local public health regulations. Field has since connected with two dozen other guests who reported similar illnesses during the same period.