Winnipeg, Manitoba — Families are demanding accountability following the tragic deaths of two loved ones who died after extended waits in the emergency room at St. Boniface Hospital last month. The cases have prompted both an internal hospital review and a critical incident investigation by provincial authorities.
Judy Burns, 68, passed away on January 21, three days after being admitted due to rectal bleeding. Her family alleges that their concerns were dismissed multiple times by medical staff. “Our family believes this case raises serious concerns about age-based dismissal and failures in emergency assessment, which could endanger other patients,” warned Chelsea Mann, Burns’ daughter. “We’re calling for justice, accountability, and greater awareness, so no other families endure this anguish.”
Burns was taken to the hospital in the early morning hours of January 18 after her daughter Samantha found her delirious following a fall. Despite presenting with hypotension and visible bleeding, medical staff attributed her condition to mere dehydration, the family claims. It was only later that she was diagnosed with diverticulosis, yet staff reportedly told the family that her symptoms were typical for an elderly patient.
The family argues otherwise, noting that Burns had always been active and mentally sharp. Over the course of several hours in the emergency room, her care appeared limited to routine blood tests, intravenous fluids, and a CT scan. Medical personnel reportedly dismissed requests for further examination, such as an endoscopy. “We were told that additional investigation would only occur if there was more bleeding,” Mann recounted.
By the evening, Burns experienced a rapid decline. “Her body went into shock. It looked as if she was having a stroke or seizure,” Samantha noted. After additional help was summoned, Burns went into cardiac arrest less than an hour later. Although she survived an emergency surgery that unveiled a small ulcer, she was later declared to be in a vegetative state, leading the family to make the heart-wrenching decision to withdraw life support.
Two nurses reportedly stepped in to advise the family on filing a formal complaint and suggested they share their story with the media. “They said this shouldn’t have happened,” Mann said, questioning whether they could have done more.
The president of the Manitoba Nurses Union, Darlene Jackson, emphasized that those nurses were advocating tirelessly for their patient, aiming for improvements in the healthcare system to prevent similar situations. Unionized nurses are now set to vote on potentially grey-listing St. Boniface Hospital due to rising safety concerns. This designation would indicate an unsafe work environment, advising nurses not to accept jobs or shifts there.
Just days before Judy Burns’ admission, 55-year-old Stacey Ross also died after enduring an 11-hour wait in the same emergency room. Initially, she had gone to the hospital for chest pain and cough but was sent home after 12 hours of observation with assurances that she was fine. However, after returning to the hospital days later, it was revealed that her lungs were congested and she had developed sepsis.
Her sister, Sheri Ross, expressed frustration that nobody from the province had reached out to them following the investigation announcement. “It just doesn’t make any sense. We don’t want this to happen to anyone else,” she said.
Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara offered condolences to the Burns family and stated that the government will investigate both deaths to determine if they meet critical incident criteria. “This is an incredibly difficult time, and my thoughts are with all those affected,” Asagwara said, underlining ongoing efforts to enhance patient safety.
Amid growing unrest over emergency department conditions, St. Boniface Hospital reported a wait time of around 10 hours as recently as Monday afternoon. Jackson noted that nurses continue to face overwhelming workloads, even after a significant hospital upgrade.
As the investigations unfold, both families seek not only closure but also systemic changes in the hospital’s emergency services to prevent future tragedies.