APTN National News
WINNIPEG–Winnipeg police have launched an investigation into the death of a First Nations man who was left waiting in a city hospital’s emergency room for 34 hours.
Brian Sinclair, a wheel-chair bound, double-amputee, died in the emergency room of Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre in September 2008.
Sinclair had a bladder infection and all he needed were antibiotics along with a catheter change.
Police said in a statement that they initiated a review of the death on March 31 and decided to open a criminal investigation.
Police also said in the statement they had contacted Sinclair’s family.
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority released a statement saying that they would cooperate with police and were confident the investigation would not lead to criminal charges.
“The (health authority) has acknowledged that mistakes were made and that Mr. Sinclair’s death was a tragedy that could have been prevented,” said the statement. “Two reviews undertaken shortly afterwards concluded that while mistakes were made and opportunities missed, no one person was individualy responsible. We believe the police investigation will reach the same conclusion.”
The family has launched a wrongful death lawsuit against the health authority.
