First Nations health ombudsperson seeks independent inquiry into hospital security practices

Article content

The First Nations health ombudsperson says she has serious concerns about what her office calls “the growing number of harmful encounters” between First Nations people and Saskatchewan Health Authority security in provincial hospitals.

Article content

Diane Lafond, who last fall said she had received around 300 complaints over an 18-month span about issues or services from within the SHA, said on Monday that her office is “currently managing more than 20 serious complaints” involving hospital security and First Nations patients.

Article content

Article content

Article content

“While some investigations are complete and others ongoing, together they point to a clear and troubling pattern,” Lafond said in a statement.

Article content

Article content

The latest and most high-profile incident surrounds the death on Jan. 9 of Trevor Dubois.

Article content

The 36-year-old cancer patient died following an altercation with security at Royal University Hospital. Saskatoon police said methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and an imitation firearm were found in his room, though his mother, Val Dubois, and his niece, Jayden Dubois, said the firearm was a pink and yellow cigarette holder-lighter.

Article content

The SHA said security had been called to a patient’s room after staff reported a safety concern, and that during the response, “a physical altercation occurred between the patient and SHA Protective Services Officers, and the patient became unresponsive.”

Article content

Lafond on Monday called for an immediate, independent inquiry into the death of Dubois “that includes meaningful involvement from First Nations and engagement” with her office.

Article content

Article content

Lafond said First Nations people “deserve to feel safe, respected, and treated with dignity in hospitals.”

Article content

Article content

The Saskatchewan government announced last week that it is launching an independent, third-party review of overall hospital safety and security at the request of the SHA due to long-standing concerns about both.

Article content

The review will look at the ways security is delivered and performed, and how safety levels can be improved. As well, additional ways to strengthen partnerships with Indigenous organizations and health system partners will be considered, the government added.

Article content

As part of a pilot project, the SHA had recently installed metal detectors in the emergency department entrance at RUH and Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital. In addition to detectors in other Saskatoon and Regina hospitals, more metal detectors are scheduled to be installed this month at the Regina Urgent Care Centre, Battlefords Union Hospital and Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert.