Winnipeg woman died in nursing home after worker tied call bell cord out of reach: court docs
CBC
A 75-year-old resident of a Winnipeg personal care home died after a health-care aide wrapped a call bell cord out of her reach, in what police called a case of criminal negligence causing death, court documents say.
Kathleen McCarthy died of chronic respiratory failure at Kildonan Long Term Care Home on July 19, 2021, after going into medical distress when an oxygen source came out of her nose and she wasn't able to get it back in.
A staff member had wrapped the call bell cord around the box out of reach so that McCarthy couldn't use it to call for help, a police affidavit says.
Police said the three health care aides "neglected their responsibilities as employees of the Kildonan Personal Care Home which caused the death of Kathleen McCarthy."
McCarthy moved into the Kildonan home a decade ago after suffering a brain aneurysm. She had mobility issues and depression and was confined to her bed.
"That was basically the end of her full life," said Bill McCarthy, Kathleen's 79-year-old brother, in a phone interview with CBC News from his home in Dieppe, N.B.
McCarthy remembers his sister fondly.
"She was the kind of lady who enjoyed company, enjoyed a crowd," McCarthy said.
"You knew she was there," he said.
"Quite joyful. People who were with Kathy were happy to be with her."
In court documents obtained by CBC News, Winnipeg police allege three health-care aides committed criminal negligence causing death.
They said one aide was responsible for initially wrapping the call bell cord out of reach, while the other two knew McCarthy couldn't reach the cord but didn't untie it.
CBC News is not identifying the workers because they were never charged with a crime.
The details are contained in an affidavit officers used to get court authorization for a production order compelling Revera, the for-profit company that owns the Kildonan care home, to hand over the internal call box records between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. on the day McCarthy died.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is kicking off its annual holiday campaign, helping to raise money to support local food banks.
If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.
One month after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced what he called "generational" military spending, New Brunswick’s defence ecosystem is on high alert.
Miranda Mirlycourtois, 34, looks directly at the camera and makes a confession.
Saskatoon city hall says police spending is projected to be $2.6 million over budget this year. That pushes the city into a $1.2-million deficit position, according to a report that will be considered by city council next week.
Students at the University of Regina are days away from deciding whether a newly formed student association should become their official representative body.
All public schools on P.E.I. are closed Friday and thousands of Maritime Electric customers are without power as strong winds create hazardous travel conditions across the province.
Prince Rupert, B.C., residents are celebrating the holidays this year with coastal flair.
In the four years Chelsey Simmonds has worked at the Eva Rothwell Centre, she has seen the need increase every year at the centre’s community food pantry.
CBC is once again looking to make the holiday season kind in Windsor-Essex.
Acute Care Alberta has extended its contract for another year with a private surgical facility at the centre of probes into health procurement and contracting.
As food bank use continues to climb across the province, front-line workers in Thunder Bay, Ont., are working to improve both food security and education.
More ads could soon be coming to Toronto’s subway system.