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Thestar.com
> GTA | | Apr. 26, 2001. 01:01 AM | | | Mother fights for standing at inquest | | Daughter's death in hospital similar to one last year | Harold Levy and Sonia Verma
STAFF REPORTERS | | The chief operating officer of the Hospital for Sick Children has been ordered to submit to questioning at Coroner's Court over an affidavit he filed in connection with an upcoming inquest. The affidavit states the mother of a child who died unexpectedly at the hospital in 1998 should not be allowed to personally participate in an inquest into the unexpected death of another child two years later on the same ward. Dr. Alan Goldbloom says in his six-page affidavit that nurses ``are fearful'' of being questioned by Sharon Shore, the mother, and that Shore has been conducting ``an ongoing campaign against the hospital and its staff.'' Chief Coroner James Young made the ruling yesterday at a hearing to determine whether Shore should be allowed to call evidence and examine witnesses at the inquest into the death of 17-year-old Sanchia Bulgin which is to begin May 23. The ruling, sought by Shore, allows her lawyer to question Goldbloom on his affidavit in open court on May 1. Sanchia died in September on Ward 5 A/B - the unit that cares for general surgery and orthopedic patients - after undergoing non-life-threatening surgery to remove her gall bladder. Poorly monitored by doctors and nurses, according to a hospital investigation, the teenager, who had sickle-cell anemia, bled to death internally. The hospital has accepted responsibility for Sanchia's death. Young ordered an inquest into Sanchia's death because the circumstances in her case were so similar to those of 10-year-old Lisa Shore. Lisa was found dead in her bed on Oct. 22, 1998, less than 12 hours after she arrived at the emergency department with leg pain caused by a non-life-threatening condition. An inquest jury was told her nurses failed to monitor her for the possible deadly effects of morphine. The jury later returned a finding of homicide, a blameless statement of fact, which means the killing of one human being by another. The hospital did not admit responsibility for Lisa's death but quietly settled with her family for an undisclosed amount before the inquest began in November, 1999. Acting on complaints later made by Shore, the Ontario College of Nurses has ordered disciplinary hearings for the two nurses who cared for Lisa. Shore told The Star after yesterday's hearing that all she wants wants ``is to help make the system better and make sure that no other children die unnecessarily at the hospital.'' ``I am only one person trying to make a difference,'' Shore added. ``And it's really sad that the hospital feels so threatened by this.'' | |
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