Family concerned about jail beating victim’s hospital care

Lack of information, delayed MRI have patient’s relatives asking questions

A man who was sent to hospital after he was attacked by fellow inmates at the Saskatoon Correctional Centre remains in intensive care, according to family members who expressed concerns about the level of care he’s receiving.

Cornell Henry, 40, was brought to Royal University Hospital on Monday morning in medical distress.

His mother, Sandra Anderson, said he was placed in an induced coma because of four large head injuries.

Anderson said she has stayed by her son’s side since he was admitted, and that staff have provided the family with little information on his condition.

She said he was scheduled for an MRI on Wednesday night, then again on Thursday, but as of Thursday evening, the family was still waiting for that to happen.

“My son has head injuries and that’s what I’m worried about,” she said. “We want to know what’s going on in there. I want my son to live. I want him to live.”

Taryn Webster, Henry’s sister, said she has been with her mother at the hospital since Tuesday, and she too feels staff haven’t done enough to keep the family informed.

“They’re not really telling us what’s going on with him,” she said, noting she’s also frustrated about the delayed MRI.

“He’s dealing with a head injury. You would think they would be wanting to know. When we first got here, they told us he had bleeding in the brain. Why aren’t they getting onto that?”

In response to an interview request, the Saskatoon Health Region issued a prepared statement.

Provincial legislation prevents the health region from speaking about the specifics of any patient’s case or giving any details on their “health care experience,” the statement read.

“With that said, if a patient or a family member has concerns with the service that is being provided, we strongly encourage them to get in touch with our client representative office. They can then start the confidential process into what has happened, look further into their concerns, and see how we may be able to address the situation.”

Anderson said she plans to contact the health region’s client representative office about her concerns.

Two jail inmates, Raven Constant and Nathan Ermine, have been charged with aggravated assault in connection with the beating Henry suffered.

Justice Ministry spokesman Drew Wilby previously said the two men would be moved to another unit, and possibly another facility in the province.

My son has head injuries and that’s what I’m worried about . ... I want my son to live. I want him to live.

KAYLE NEIS Sandra Anderson, left, mother of jailhouse beating victim Cornell Henry, and Henry’s sister, Taryn Webster, say they have been given little information by Royal University Hospital staff about Henry’s condition.