A provincial fatality inquiry has ruled the death of a Calgary inmate three years ago could not have been prevented.
Jolee Acorn, who was 36-years-old at the time or her death, was arrested by Calgary police for a number of charges on Aug. 6, 2014.
She died in custody four days later.
Acorn, an admitted drug user, had been placed on a narcotic withdrawal regime.
On Aug. 10, 2014, she was found unresponsive in her cell in the infirmary unit of the Calgary Remand Centre. CPR was attempted and a defibrillator was used, but Acorn did not survive.
She was transferred by EMS to the trauma unit of the Foothills hospital where she was declared dead.
The medical examiner ruled the medical cause of death as cardiac arrhythmia.
The inquiry was told that in July 2012, Acorn had been diagnosed as possibly having Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome – a heart condition – and was directed to take further tests to confirm the diagnosis. She did not follow-up on those requests.
In his recommendations, Judge Paul Mason asked Alberta Health Services (AHS) to review its admission form to indicate whether any previous medical files had been obtained or were available.
Mason said AHS should consider holding information and education sessions for provincial correctional facilities on opioid withdrawal and the impact of fluid loss, and set parameters where fluid intake or loss is more closely monitored.
Several hours before her death, Acorn had vomited and complained of diarrhea.
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