Lawyers seek ban on media

The trial of the Royal Ottawa Health Group Care Group was suddenly adjourned Thursday and lawyers for the hospital say they will seek a publication ban when the trial resumes Dec. 22.

Lawyer Stephen Bird asked for the adjournment, citing a Citizen story that included witness testimony about a violent struggle in the hospital’s Recovery Unit in July 2012 that injured three hospital employees.

Bird told Justice of the Peace John Doran the story could taint the testimony of future witnesses at the trial.

The hospital is charged with three violations of the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act: failing to provide proper training to protect workers’ health and safety; failing to take proper precautions to protect workers; and, failing to develop proper measures for workers to summon help in an emergency.

There is no publication ban on the trial, but as is normally the case, witnesses are excluded from court when other witnesses are testifying.

The charges stem from a July 5, 2012 “Code White” incident in which a patient attacked two registered practical nurses, choking one to unconsciousness and knocking another out by throwing her into a steel door frame. He was eventually subdued by two personal support workers and a second patient. The two RPNs were treated in hospital for their injuries and a personal support worker was treated the next day at a medical clinic.