Psychiatric patient sues over alleged negligence at HSC that enabled suicide attempt, caused severe injuries

A woman undergoing treatment at Health Sciences Centre after a suicide attempt who was allegedly permitted to leave on a temporary pass and severely injured in another bid to end her life is suing the hospital, her psychiatrist and Shared Health.

The Free Press is not naming the woman or her husband, who filed a statement of claim last week in Manitoba Court of King’s Bench, claiming the defendants were negligent with her care.

The court document says the woman, after attempting suicide on Sept. 2, 2023, was rushed to the HSC by ambulance, treated for her injuries and admitted to the trauma surgery unit. A few days later, she told hospital staff she was continuing to experience suicidal ideations and was voluntarily admitted into the psychiatric unit.

While under psychiatric care, she was issued community passes to get out with her husband and children for up to five hours at a time.

The lawsuit claims that on Sept. 12, psychiatrist Dr. Manpriya Kaur recommended the woman undergo five rounds of electroconvulsive therapy under general anesthesia and, after the first one, she reported feeling “confused and scared.”

She underwent two additional treatments, and following the the third one on Sept. 20, the claim contends, she was allowed to leave the psychiatric unit on an unaccompanied pass, and no one informed her husband.

The woman was found the next morning after being injured by a vehicle “while lying on the road, in another attempt to end her life,” the document claims.

“The breaches of duty, by the defendants, resulted in severe and prolonged physical injuries for (the woman),” it says.

“These injuries required significant treatment interventions, some of which required specialist interventions and treatments which remain ongoing.”

The court document also claims the injuries received in the collision resulted in not just multiple fractures and a collapsed lung, but also a longer psychological recovery, mental upset, continuing and worsening depression and significant impacts for her husband and two children.

A spokeswoman for Shared Health, which operates the Health Sciences Centre — Kaur’s employer — declined to comment because the matter is before the court.

The lawsuit claims that while the hospital initiated a critical-incident report at the time, it took until April 30 of this year to complete it and make recommendations.

“The (woman) was told that the delay was due to staffing changes and administrative processes,” the court document says.

No statement of defence has been filed and the allegations have not been proven in court.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca