WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Two families are demanding answers after the deaths of their loved ones at St. Boniface Hospital, where prolonged waits in the emergency room have prompted both an internal review and a provincial critical-incident investigation.
Judy Burns, 68, passed away on January 21, three days after being admitted for complications that included rectal bleeding. Her family claims that medical staff continuously dismissed their concerns as they sought urgent care. “We are fighting for justice for our mom,” said her daughter Chelsea Mann, who believes the case highlights potential age-based biases in medical assessments and calls for greater accountability from the hospital.
Burns entered the emergency department on January 18 after her daughter Samantha found her disoriented following a fall. Despite significant health issues, including low blood pressure and visible bleeding, hospital staff attributed her condition to dehydration. The family contends that their mother, who had been active and coherent, did not exhibit typical symptoms of an elderly patient.
As they waited in the emergency room, the family claims that Burns received only minimal care, which included repeated blood tests and intravenous fluids. Concerns about her deteriorating condition were repeatedly overlooked, with doctors suggesting a follow-up colonoscopy instead of a necessary endoscopy. “We were told that additional investigations would only be required if her condition worsened,” Mann recalled.
Burns’ condition sharply declined later that day. “It looked as though she was having a stroke or seizure,” Samantha said, adding that she had to call for a nurse’s assistance. Within an hour, Burns went into cardiac arrest. Although she survived emergency surgery, she was later found to be in a vegetative state. The family made the heart-wrenching decision to remove her from life support on January 21.
A similar tragedy occurred just days prior, when 55-year-old Stacey Ross died after an agonizing 11-hour wait at the same hospital. Ross initially went to the emergency room with chest pain and a cough but was sent home after being told her condition was stable. After several consultations with her doctor, Ross returned to the hospital, only to be admitted much later. When her oxygen levels plummeted, staff discovered severe pneumonia and sepsis. Tragically, after two additional cardiac arrests, she died on January 16.
Her sister, Sheri Ross, expressed frustration over the lack of communication regarding the ongoing investigation into her sister’s death. “We haven’t been contacted by anyone,” she said. “We just want to ensure that this doesn’t happen to another family.”
Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara extended condolences to the Burns family and confirmed that the province is investigating whether Judy Burns’ case meets the criteria for a critical incident designation. In a statement, Asagwara emphasized that ensuring the health of Manitobans is a top priority for the government.
The Manitoba Nurses Union is considering a “grey-listing” of St. Boniface Hospital due to growing safety concerns. Union president Darlene Jackson mentioned that the hospital’s emergency room remains overburdened despite recent upgrades totaling $141 million. Current conditions are creating an arduous environment for nurses and contributing to delays in patient care.
As the families seek justice and transparency, they hope their experiences will lead to meaningful change in the healthcare system. They fear that without significant reforms, other families may face similar heartaches in the future.