25 escapes in 3 years from West 5th’s forensic unit

Patients have absconded 25 times in the last three years from the forensic unit at Hamilton’s mental health hospital that detains and treats those found not criminally responsible or unfit to stand trial.

St. Joseph’s Healthcare tells the police every time but doesn’t always inform the public.

“There is a certain degree of discretion about when the public should be alerted,” said Dr. Gary Chaimowitz, head of the forensic service.

“What you don’t want to do is overwhelm the public with notifications for nonviolent people.”

Chaimowitz’s comments are an about-face from earlier in June when two hospital leaders said escapes are rare after two patients went missing from the West 5th campus within nine days of one another.

“I can speak with confidence that it’s very rarely,” Winnie Doyle, executive vice-president of mental health and addictions, said after Syna Lorn walked away June 4 during an unsupervised grounds pass.

When Jason Murray bolted from two staff supervising him on the grounds June 13, associate head of service Dr. Joe Ferencz said: “It’s very unusual ... I can’t recall the last time we had an escape at the hospital. I would say probably one time last year.”

The police notified the public in both cases because Lorn and Murray are considered a risk to the public by the Ontario Review Board.

Chaimowitz said the majority of patients who go missing return on their own within hours.

Lorn called staff at the hospital asking to come back June 5 and Murray turned himself into police in Sarnia June 20.

“None of the people that have absconded in the last three years committed an offence while they were out of the hospital,” said Chaimowitz.

“Any abscondment from the hospital we take exceptionally seriously ... The number is very small.”

He says the rate is in line or lower than other forensic units and no patient has escaped from a secure area.

Coun. Terry Whitehead has suggested using electronic monitoring equipment during grounds passes for potentially violent patients.

“My job is to ensure the community is protected,” said Whitehead. “I see no reason why you can’t have a GPS until they complete the program.”

St. Joseph’s is considering the idea but Chaimowitz points out it has been rejected by the hospital before, no other Ontario forensic unit uses electronic monitoring and it’s unlikely the Ontario Review Board would agree to it.

“This is a hospital, not a jail,” he said.