Investigation underway into hospital death
‘They shamed him, they humiliated him, they took away his dignity’
A Glace Bay family says an investigation into what they believe was degrading treatment of their late father by staff at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital is under- way.
“They shamed him, they humiliated him, they took away his dignity,” said Linda Head about the death of her father, Ches Caines, at the hospital in October 2017.
“There was nothing they could do to degrade Dad more than they did. I’m sure he wasn’t the first and I’m sure he won’t be the last.”
Linda and her brother, David Caines, filed a complaint with Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness and have received written confirmation that an investigation is underway.
A letter to the family from Health and Wellness advised that on March 6 a report under the Protection of Persons in Care Act indicated there were grounds to open an investigation into hospital staff members’ alleged mistreatment of their father.
The letter states: “Following an inquiry into the allegation it was determined that there are reasonable grounds to conduct an investigation under the Protection for Persons in Care Act.”
The Cape Breton Regional Health Authority falls under Nova Scotia Health and Wellness.
Linda said for two days in a row at the regional hospital, her father — who suffered from dementia — was put in a chair while wearing an adult diaper and left at an open doorway for the entire day.
“Everyone going down the hallway could see our dad in a diaper in the doorway,” she said.
“That was abuse. You wouldn’t do that to a child, let alone someone who is helpless and doesn’t know what you’re doing.”
Linda said it was devastating to witness what staff did to her father.
“I felt like everyone else who witnessed it — it was revolting. Dad was a proud man, he would have been devastated if he knew what they did.”
Everything began Sept. 30, 2017, when family visited Ches at his Sydney nursing home, where they found him walking around and doing well.
Later that night, David called to check on his father and discovered that at about 10:30 p.m. Ches had a combative outburst and was transported to the regional hospital’s emergency room.
David said a previous time their father was hospitalized he was given medication that impaired his mental faculties and they specifically requested that their father not be given anything that would take away his mental or physical capabilities again.
However, their father’s health deteriorated rapidly after being admitted. First, he lost the use of his legs, then he was unable to swallow and finally he lost his ability to speak.
Ches was in the mental health unit of the hospital for four days and was then transferred to the fourth floor before being moved to the palliative care unit where he spent his last week, until his death on Oct. 27, 2017.
Following his death, the family obtained their father’s medical records from the hospital, which showed he was given antipsychotic drugs, despite their request not to do so. The Cape Breton Post has viewed these records and confirmed the details.
In a story in the Cape Breton Post in December 2017, the family filed a complaint regarding their father’s death to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital and also with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia. A spokesperson with the college said they are bound through legislation under the Medical Act on matters of confidentiality and cannot confirm complaints received as it wouldn’t be appropriate to do so. David Caines said he feels it was a combination of medications and inhumane treatment that killed his father.
David said four people, including two police officers, took his father from his bed the night he was taken to the hospital from the nursing home.
“They said he became aggressive. Who wouldn’t get aggressive having four strangers take you out of your bed at night? Then they used it against him to give him all this medication at the hospital.”
David said he could see the deterioration in his father within a week.
“We have photographs,” he said. “They are supposed to help you when you go the hospital, not kill you.”
With the college looking into the medical side, the family also demanded an investigation into their father’s treatment.
“Health and Wellness told us the investigation will go back to when he was admitted to the emergency room,” Linda said.
Linda said there were many abuse incidents witnessed by family, including one day when Ches had to use the washroom and told the nurse he wanted to stand up like he always does. Linda said the nurse suddenly started waving her arms and screaming at the top of her lungs for him to sit down.
“At this point he couldn’t walk far and couldn’t turn around,” Linda said. “The nurse just flew her arms up in the air, left him there and took off. David got up and had to grab hold of Dad.”
Linda said the family wants to see better training for nurses dealing with this type of scenario.
“If they don’t have ‘the heart’ to help the elderly or people with disabilities, they shouldn’t be there,” she said.
Tracy Barron, media relations advisor for Nova Scotia Health and Wellness/Seniors said the safety of residents in health-care facilities is a priority and they take all complaints seriously.
“We can’t talk about specific individuals, but generally an investigation under the Protection for Persons in Care Act involves interviewing relevant parties, analyzing evidence such as documentation, policies, statements or videos,” she said.
“Relevant individuals are provided with a preliminary report to review the information gathered, provide clarity or any additional information that may not have already been provided.”
Barron said once the investigation concludes the parties will receive a final report that includes the findings and any directives that may be issued to the facility involved.