Friday, February 25, 2000
Coroner's inquest rules 10-year-old a homicide victim
Criminal probe to come: Toronto girl died soon after
being admitted to hospital
Mark Gollom, with files from Desmond Brown
National Post
Carlo Allegri, National Post
Sharon Shore, mother of Lisa Shore, and her lawyer,
Frank Gomberg, are calling for a public inquiry into the hospital's handling
of the case in which Lisa died. They believe the hospital tried to cover
up her death. "Homicide equals Hospital for Sick Children in this case,"
Gomberg said at a press conference yesterday. |
The jury from the Lisa Shore inquest has made 35 recommendations
to improve patient care at the Hospital for Sick Children. |
TORONTO - A criminal investigation will be launched after yesterday's ruling
by an inquest jury that the death of a hospitalized 10-year-old girl was
a homicide.
Lisa Shore died in 1998, just hours after being admitted to Toronto's
Hospital for Sick Children suffering pain from a non-life threatening injury.
The inquest heard that nurses ignored doctor's orders to have Lisa monitored
regularly after she was hooked up to a morphine pump.
They also admitted to turning off the monitor that measures heart and
breath rate. Lisa's mother, who slept at her daughter's bedside, testified
that the girl was never hooked up to the monitor.
Although autopsy tests were inconclusive, it was believed the cause
of death was a result of the effects of morphine mixed with other drugs.
The term homicide in a coroner's inquest is different than the word
applied in the criminal code. It's a finding of fact -- that a human being
killed another being -- but not a finding of fault or legal culpability.
"We are pleased they came back with this finding of fact," said Lisa's
mother, Sharon. "We're pleased that the actions of the Hospital for Sick
Children have now been exposed but it doesn't change anything for us."
"Homicide equals Hospital for Sick Children in this case," said Frank
Gomberg, the Shore's lawyer. "They said it loud and clear with no explanation
required."
"They gave her the drugs, they didn't monitor her. It was the exact
equivalent of putting her on an airplane with a bag that was supposed to
have a parachute in it, pushing her out and then saying 'Look, no parachute.'
"
The family also called for a public inquiry into the hospital's handling
of the case, believing it attempted to cover up the death of their daughter.
The jury also provided 35 recommendations to improve patient care at
the hospital.
Dr. Alan Goldbloom, the hospital's senior vice-president of clinical
affairs, admitted the hospital made mistakes and had failed the Shore family.
"We are profoundly sorry for what has happened," he said.
Dr. Goldbloom said the hospital will implement most or all of the recommendation
made by the jury and has already taken steps to improve patient care.
The nurses who attended to Lisa are on leave with pay. Dr. Goldbloom
said the hospital will review the case to determine their future employment.
|
