Winnipeg Free Press > Local > St. Boniface hospital faces suit in death of woman, 86

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St. Boniface hospital faces suit in death of woman, 86

By: Aldo Santin

Posted: 05/2/2012 3:18 AM

A Winnipeg woman is suing the St. Boniface General Hospital and some of its medical staff, claiming the death of her 70-pound mother was linked to an excessive amount of Tylenol 3s administered before the elderly woman fell out of bed and died.

Agathe Parisien was 86 years old when she was admitted to the hospital in September 2010, suffering from suspected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Parisien died in the early hours of Oct. 14, still in hospital, after she had fallen out of bed, unresponsive, with a bruise to her head. Her heart had stopped and medical staff were unable to revive her.

Parisien's daughter and executor of her estate, Simone Henault, alleged her mother's death was the result of the actions of two doctors and two nurses, depriving the family members of her guidance, care and companionship.

Henault, who is suing on behalf of herself, her mother's estate, her three brothers and one sister, her mother's two sisters, her mother's 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, is seeking unspecified general and special damages and legal costs.

Named in the suit are the hospital, two doctors and two nurses.

The allegations have not been proven in court. Statements of defence have not been filed.

A spokeswoman for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said Parisien's death was declared a critical incident at the time, a full disclosure was made to the family and an apology given to the family.

The spokeswoman said the hospital will not be making any other comments while the matter is before the courts.

Henault alleges her mother was placed on a fall-prevention program when she was admitted because she was at a high risk to fall. Henault also alleged the initial attending physician prescribed one to two tablets of acetaminophen with codeine (known as Tylenol 3) to be administered to her mother four times daily while in hospital to deal with her back pain.

Henault alleges that on the day before her mother died, she was given two tablets of Tylenol 3 at 5:26 a.m., at 11:16 a.m., 5:10 p.m., and again at 8:18 p.m.

At 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 14, Parisien was found on the floor, unresponsive, with a bruise to her head. A code blue was called (indicating her heart had stopped) and she was given a drug to counter the cumulative effects of the Tylenol 3. She was declared dead at 2:39 a.m. on Oct. 14.

Henault alleges that on the evening before her mother died, she was given the equivalent of 12 hours worth of Tylenol 3s in a three-hour period.

Henault alleges the hospital and the individuals named in the suit failed to ensure her mother's fall-prevention program was properly implemented, and that they failed to ensure she was administered the proper drug treatments at the correct dosages for someone of her weight and health concerns.

Henault alleges the doctors and nurses breached their duty of care toward her mother and that the hospital is liable for their actions.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 2, 2012 A6

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