Hospital Neglect Alleged: Wife of Quebec Man Who Died from Bedsores Accuses Hospital of Ignoring Her Concerns Regarding MaID Request

Story:

MONTREAL – Sylvie Brosseau once dreamt of shared adventures with her partner Normand Meunier in an adapted camper, despite his quadriplegia. They envisioned spending quality time outdoors, with family and grandkids. However, everything changed after Meunier's harrowing ordeal at a hospital north of Montreal.

For 96 hours, he laid on a hospital stretcher, enduring excruciating pain, leading to a severe, unhealed pressure sore. Upon recounting his story at a coroner's inquest, Brosseau was visibly emotional, describing Meunier's fate as a tragic consequence of neglect.

Meunier, 66, sought medical assistance in dying two months after the abrupt hospital mishap and passed away on March 29, 2024.

"His dreams... his aspirations crumbled under the weight of an incurable bedsore," Brosseau said. "But for his quadriplegia, he still harbored ambitions. Yet the hospital bedsore robbed him of his will to live."

According to Brosseau, she implored hospital staff to provide Meunier with a therapeutic mattress to help heal the wound and prevent recurrences, but felt her pleas fell on deaf ears.

"They cared little for my plight," she said before her testimony.

She displayed photographs that captured their life together – a beaming Meunier surrounded by grandchildren, and other joyful moments. Brosseau wished to evoke the loving side of her partner, rather than the harrowing visuals of the gaping wound on his lower back.

Coroner Dave Kimpton is overseeing Meunier's death investigation. The inquest, which commenced on May 5, includes testimonies from medical personnel, police officers, and experts offering recommendations.

In her afternoon testimony, Brosseau revealed bedsores were always a concern due to Meunier's history of developing them in successive hospital stays.

She testified that Meunier was admitted to St-Jérôme hospital on Jan. 18, 2024, with respiratory issues. She informed medical staff about his quadriplegia and susceptibility to sores, but was allegedly dismissed with a flippant remark, "you are lucky, I saved his life."

Meunier was finally released from hospital on Jan. 29, but his family was shocked to learn of the infected wound upon the homecare team's arrival the following day.

Brosseau broke down when she spoke of her heart-wrenching encounter with the wound on Feb. 5. Overwhelmed by the severity of her husband's condition, she agreed to his return to the hospital.

Throughout her husband's multiple hospital stays, Brosseau fought relentlessly to secure the supplies Meunier needed, including specialized mattresses, bedsheets, and bandages. Meunier ultimately requested medical assistance in dying in early March, as his condition continued to worsen.

He eventually passed away, surrounded by family and with his chosen music playing. "He left as he wished," she said.

Kimpton praised Brosseau's unwavering love and devotion to her late partner. "He was fortunate to have a warrior at his side," the coroner commented, before Brosseau wrapped up her testimony.

"Meunier's story demonstrates that bedsores in the healthcare system continue to be an overlooked issue," said his lawyer, Patrick Martin-Ménard, outside the courtroom. "What we've observed throughout this inquest is that patients like Meunier did not receive the care they required."

Martin-Ménard pointed out that hospital staff seemed uninterested in introspecting or contemplating their role in the unfortunate turn of events. He hoped the inquest findings would yield a stronger, more proactive healthcare system that addresses the needs of spinal cord injury patients and guards against pressure ulcers at every point of their journey.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 15, 2025.

Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press

Note: Hospital staff should be equipped to properly manage patients like Normand Meunier by offering comprehensive care, focusing on pressure injury prevention, wound care, patient repositioning, and caregiver training. Essential strategies include the use of pressure-relieving cushions, frequent repositioning, adequate nutrition and hydration, prompt and expert wound care, training programs for caregivers and healthcare staff, and advocacy and awareness.

References:[1] "Bedsore Rescue Positioning Wedge Cushion." Medline Industries, Inc. [Accessed April 21, 2023]. https://www.medline.com/shop/Bedsore-Rescue-Positioning-Wedge-Cushion-Medium-Small?_requestid=12587908

[2] Burrow, T., & Schultz, K. (2002). Preventing pressure ulcers in people with spinal cord injury: evidence-based clinical practice. Spinal Cord, 40(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.sc.3101348

[3] Pieper, C. C., Sheen, K. K., & Hicks, A. L. (2012). Evaluating patient and caregiver advocacy effectiveness in pressure ulcer prevention and healing. Journal of Wound Care, 21(11), 583–588. https://doi.org/10.12968/jowc.2012

[4] Rush, D. W., VanGilder, D. C., Scalamandre, M. F., Sumner, M. D., Kelly, P. J., Herr, D. L., & Carson, W. C. (2006). Management of pressure ulcers in patients with spinal cord injury: an outcomes study. The Spine Journal, 6(6), 556–565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2006.10.016

[5] Vessey, S. M., Martin, K., & Wolfe, R. B. (2018). Acute Dermatologic Crises in the Spinal Cord Injured Patient. Advances in Skin & Wound Care, 31(6), 219–227. https://doi.org/10.1093/aswc/fwx012

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Hospital Neglect Alleged: Wife of Quebec Man Who Died from Bedsores Accuses Hospital of Ignoring Her Concerns Regarding MaID Request