Saskatoon city councillor sues health authority, doctors over mental health treatment
CTV
A Saskatoon city councillor has launched a lawsuit against the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and five doctors.
A Saskatoon city councillor has launched a lawsuit against the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and five doctors.
Ward 1 Coun. Darren Hill's claim stems from a March 2021 incident where he was admitted to the Irene & Leslie Dubé Centre for Mental Health.
According to Hill's statement of claim, on the evening of March 19 an acquaintance called police, believing Hill might harm himself.
The claim says police responded to city hall, taking Hill into their care "against his will" even though he "informed them he had no intention of harming himself."
Police released Hill into the care of medical staff at Royal University Hospital where the claim says he was placed in a locked room "with only a concrete slab with a mattress on it and dirty sheets."
Hill's claim says there was no "two-way communication" possible aside from knocking on the door to get a nurse's attention so he could use the washroom as the room did not have one.
Hill's claim alleges he asked to speak with his family doctor, psychiatrist and lawyer but never got the chance. The claim also alleges medical staff appeared to have spoken with Hill's ex-husband, despite the fact the couple were in the process of separating and Hill had specifically asked staff not to contact him.