Family calls for inquest into man's OD death on day of hospital discharge
Ashley Turner is looking for answers about the death of her brother Shayne, who suffered a fatal overdose the same day he was discharged from a Regina hospital last November.
Standing with her mother, Terri Mckeever, who held a photo of Shayne, Turner shared the grief her family has been navigating in the past year.
“I miss my brother immensely and every cell of my being
She described Shayne as funny, “kind-hearted” and a great father to his two children, and the kind of person who lent a helping hand to anyone.
“He was the glue of our family,” she said. “He took a part of us with him.”
Mckeever and Turner spoke to media after appearing as guests at the legislature on Tuesday, invited by the Saskatchewan NDP.
Turner said her brother Shayne was admitted to Regina General Hospital (RGH) on Nov. 7, 2021, after suffering an overdose and being transported by paramedics to emergency care.
According to a patient's advocate report requested by the family, Shayne requested a referral to Regina detox seven times while he was in hospital care and spoke with an addictions counsellor about seeking further in-patient care.
He was told the detox facility had a wait-list and that he did not meet criteria, despite having been an in-patient at the facility before.
Turner was discharged on Nov. 8, and given two brochures on addictions recovery and a cab voucher. He died of a fentanyl overdose later that day, said Turner.
Shayne was not given a naloxone kit upon his release from RGH, said Turner, which is standard protocol for patients being treated following an overdose, and was directed to social services.
“My brother didn't need social assistance. After a near-death experience, he needed continued health care,” Turner said.
Turner and Mckeever chose to speak up to highlight how addictions care in Saskatchewan is working with “a flawed system, built on temporary solutions.”
“We are tired of losing our loved ones when their deaths are preventable,” she said.
“It has to stop,” Mckeever added. “I don't want any more families to have to go through this.”
The family is calling on the province to take serious action on an overdose prevention plan, and to better deliver supports for people struggling with substance abuse disorder.
Turner named a need for more funding directed toward addictions resources, including detox facilities and harm reduction services, and a better continuing care model.
“When people are asking for help, listen,” she said. “It feels like addictions is being dismissed (and) I would like to see anyone with substance abuse disorder treated with equal health care.”
The family has requested the Saskatchewan Coroners Service call an inquiry in Shayne's death, as they say it was preventable.
Turner said a written response from the coroner stated the office had reopened her brother's death investigation and if called, an inquest would be the first to look at an overdose death that occurred outside of police custody in the province.
Mental Health and Addictions Minister Everett Hindley said he is concerned to hear how Shayne was treated, and would be following up with the health authority.
“We want to ensure that we get everything possible, to make sure that the patient is getting the necessary care that they need,” he said Tuesday.
Hindley said the province is working to address addictions capacities, pointing to funding in this year's budget for the addition of 150 new addictions beds within three years, and work on expanding harm reduction supports.
“We want to be able to meet people where they're at when it comes to addictions supports,” he added. “We are trying to do what we can with the resources we have, to spread those resources out as much across the province as possible.”
Hindley said he would like to see those beds operational “very soon.”