MONTREAL – A Montreal mother is at the end of her rope after her schizophrenic son has escaped from the Douglas Mental Health University Institute four times in just over one year.
The family of Jeffrey Beaudry claims the hospital has made false promises, and feels it’s failing to keep him safe.
“I can’t take this mentally,” said Liba Probost, Beaudry’s mother.
“It’s gone too far and I’m thinking about the other parents who aren’t speaking out, enough is enough!”
Jeffrey Beaudry went missing from the hospital late Monday night and showed up at his mother’s door in the early hours on Tuesday morning, after walking for five hours without shoes on.
“I went into a shock, like ‘what’s my son doing here?’ he’s supposed to be in the hospital,” said Probost, who brought her son back to the Douglas on Tuesday afternoon.
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It’s the fourth time the 31-year old has gone missing and his mother is worried about his safety since the psychiatric patient is often unaware of his surroundings.
“Thank God he’s alive, thank God he came here,” said Probost who normally ends up finding her son wandering on the streets of Montreal.
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The family has had several meetings with hospital administrators, including one after Beaudry escaped in May.
“We sat down, there were promises made, they admitted that there was negligence with the nurse because she didn’t notice Jeffrey was missing for 5 hours and they promised that there would be good changes to come, these changes did not happen,” deplored Probost.
Family members have strongly suggested the hospital put an ID bracelet on wandering patients like Beaudry, a request they claim was denied.
“In this case he was supervised but he still left,” said his brother Karl Beaudry.
“They’re dropping the ball here.”
And it’s clearly taking its toll on the entire family.
“I’m tired of being scared everyday,” said Probost. “It’s time they take action, it’s not a safe hospital!”
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