Kai Matthews’ meningitis B death reviews to be kept secret
Two reviews of how doctors and paramedics handled the case of Kai Matthews, who died from meningitis last year, will be kept secret.
The 19-year-old Halifax man died June 1, 2021, in the Halifax Infirmary of meningitis B after being discharged twice in the previous 24 hours by emergency department doctors.
His parents had to bring Matthews to the hospital the second time themselves because paramedics refused to take him because his COVID-19 test results had not been received.
After the second visit to the ER, the doctor on duty discharged him with instructions to meet his parents in the parking lot of the hospital after EKG tests didn’t find any problems.
His parents immediately returned him to the hospital because they thought his condition was deteriorating and he had developed a skin rash.
Matthews underwent a series of tests including a lumbar puncture and a head CT, which showed brain swelling and bleeding.
After being intubated, Kai was transferred to intensive care at about 2:40 p.m. where he was diagnosed with sepsis and meningitis B. He died that day.
After a public outcry over the death, then Health Minister Zach Churchill called it a tragedy and said Nova Scotia Health would conduct a qualitative review of the clinical decisions involved in Matthews’ treatment.
The company that runs emergency health services in Nova Scotia, EMCI, also reviewed paramedics’ handling of the case.
Last week an EMCI spokesperson relayed a one-paragraph email response attributed to Paula Martell, executive director of health services, risk management and compliance with
EHS operations. It said: “With patient and paramedic safety our top priority, EHS Operations routinely undertakes quality reviews, a confidential process under the Quality Improvement Information Protection Act (QIPPA). EHS Operations collaborates with healthcare partners on system-wide quality reviews when appropriate.”
A Nova Scotia Health spokesperson also said qualitative reviews are routinely kept confidential.
“Each time there is a serious event involving someone who has had contact with the health-care system within Nova Scotia Health, a quality review is conducted. This is a confidential process focused on learning; improving; and is governed by confidential Quality Improvement Information, pursuant to the Quality Improvement Information Protection Act.
“Quality reviews are kept confidential to foster an environment where participants are able to make recommendations confidentially; this is integral as it ensures the frank and forthright participation of those involved. It is our current practice to share quality review recommendations with family members, if requested.”
The Matthews family has sued Nova Scotia Health and two emergency department doctors who handled his case, Dr. Nicholas Sowers and Dr. Ryan Henneberry, for negligence and breach of duty of care.