WATCH: A Sparwood family is blaming the health care system for the suicide death of a young woman. Geoff Hastings reports.
A suicide by a Kootenay mother of two has sparked an investigation by the Interior Health Authority after family members accused healthcare workers of improperly releasing her from hospital.
“It’s been tragic,” says Kathy Hope, Meikayla Maddison’s mother.
“I’ve got a lot of questions and I’ve got no answers. I just can’t believe this has been allowed to happen.”
Hope found her daughter unconscious inside her car just before 1:30 a.m. on February 20. She phoned 911, and Maddison was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Fernie.
However, she was released from the hospital shortly after over the objections of family members, who said she was mentally unwell.
“The doctor got in, assessed her, very very quickly, and suddenly she was free to go,” says Hunter Wilcox, Maddison’s brother.
“It was the absolutely wrong thing to do.”
While her brother and mom argued to keep her in care, Maddison left the hospital and RCMP drove her back to her Sparwood home. At 4:30 a.m. that same day, she was again transported by ambulance after being found unresponsive. She was sent to a Calgary hospital and pronounced brain dead. She died three days later.
Why the hospital released Maddison is still unknown, but Interior Health says they’re looking into the matter.
“In any situation where we have concerns about suicide, the determination on how we manage those individual patients is based on the assessment of the physician and clinical team,” said Erica Phillips, a spokesperson for the Interior Health Authority.
“At this juncture we’re just beginning our review and it’s too early to provide any details.”
Phillips said she understands the family’s grief.
“In any situation where somebody dies unexpectedly, it’s tragic event……our condolences our with you.”
But Kathy Hope wants more than condolences.
“I believe the doctor and the RCMP dropped the ball,” she said.
“I don’t understand it. Not with mental health issues, I just can’t comprehend why this was even allowed to happen.”
“If that had not been allowed to happen, my daughter would be alive.”
The family of Meikayla has set up a trust fund at the CIBC bank in Cranbrook for her children. If you would like to contribute, you’re asked to quote the account number 00470/84-70995