Embattled nurse testifies about James’ death

Woman clarifies ‘faking it’ comments at inquiry into Kinew James’ death

Kinew didn’t always want proper foods and follow the proper advice and didn’t want to restrict herself from the things that she loved.

Nurse Jackie Kemp responded Thursday to testimony that she had said Kinew James was faking illness before her death.

Former Regional Psychiatric Centre (RPC) correctional officer John Barrajon had said at the inquest into James’ death that he heard Kemp say James was “faking it”; Kemp testified that she said James “may” have been doing so.

It wasn’t uncommon for inmates in the RPC to fake illness when they were agitated or were seeking attention, Kemp clarified.

“It’s not a pleasant truth, but it’s the truth.”

Kemp worked the night shift during James’ final stay at RPC. James’ diabetes wasn’t well controlled, as she might eat two sandwiches or cereal with sugar before bed, Kemp said. Although, she felt proud when James would surrender her pop and chocolate bars.

“Kinew didn’t always want proper foods and follow the proper advice and didn’t want to restrict herself from the things that she loved.”

The night James died, Kemp testified she couldn’t find the doctor’s orders indicating how much insulin James should receive at certain blood sugar levels, saying she was aware that James had received a lot of insulin that day to bring down high blood sugar readings.

That night James had complained that she felt like she had low blood sugar but Kemp told her that was not the case, saying it just felt different after having been so high. By 9:45 p.m. her blood sugar had dropped to 6.8 – down from as high as 30.8 that day. It rose to 8.1 by 10:30 p.m.

Kemp testified the readings were not high enough for her to call a doctor or give medication, so she told James to drink water. It was not clear from her testimony what reading would have met that threshold.

James didn’t provide any further details about how she was feeling Kemp said, explaining that when James was frustrated she struggled to communicate.

At 11:55 p.m. James activated her cell call, but Kemp did not enter the cell until about 10 minutes later because policy dictated she had to wait for two security guards to assist her, she said.

James’ blood sugar had risen again, to 15.2, and Kemp was concerned with her pulse.

Kemp testified she called a Code Blue emergency as she re-entered the cell with emergency medical equipment. Previous witnesses have agreed a Code Blue was not called until after the cardiac device was used and staff members were already performing CPR.

Kemp was also unable to explain why some records showed she had measured James’ blood sugar while others did not.

During the inquest Thursday, the public and jury were twice removed from proceedings as lawyers argued the admissibility of certain evidence and lines of questioning.