(Photo credit: Kurhan/SXC)
On April 9, a former nurse at a Georgian Bay hospital was recently charged with manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death after she allegedly removed a woman from life support without consent in March of 2014.
Before healthcare workers can proceed with any medical procedures, they must always get consent from the patient or another loved one who’s in charge of their care. Even if a doctor or nurse believes they’re acting in the patient’s best interest, the patient is still required to agree to the procedure before medical professionals can act.
Midland Police did not release the victim’s identity to the public, but the widow, Michael LeBlanc, of the deceased 39-year-old woman, Deanna Leblanc, spoke to the media. Michael said his partner was recovering from a half-hour knee scope surgery at the end of February. A few days later on March 2, his partner woke up early in the morning and told her husband to call 911 because she was dying, Michael told the Toronto Star. She was taken to the Georgian Bay Hospital, where she was put onto a respirator at 6 p.m. that day and by 8 p.m. she was dead, according to the Star.
Police began their investigation on March 6, 2014, and recently charged Joanna Flynn, a 50-year-old Wyevale resident who worked at Georgian Bay Hospital. She was released on a $50,000 bail on April 9 and is expected to appear in court on May 28.
Meanwhile, the hospital confirmed with the Star that Flynn was fired a few days after a quality of care review into Deanna’s death. The College of Nurses of Ontario has launched an investigation into the incident.
Experts in the media have deemed the case to be unprecedented in Canada. Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers’ Duncan Embury was interviewed by Global News Toronto regarding end of life care and consent.
While the courts may decide whether these charges are warranted, Michael told the Star he wasn’t sure how he felt after hearing charges were laid.
“I want it to be over,” he told the Star. “It’s just me and my two boys without her, and it’s a [tough] situation, to tell you the truth.”
If you’ve been injured by negligence by a doctor or healthcare worker, you can be compensated. The personal injury and accident lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers have been handling all types of injuries for over 45 years including injuries from medical malpractice. We understand the impacts injuries can have on your life and we know how to help you. Call us at 416-920-4242. Set up a free consultation and come talk with us.
Greg Neinstein
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