Family seeks answers after death of First Nations girl twice discharged from hospital with broken arm

The family of a nine-year-old First Nations girl who died after twice being discharged from a Manitoba hospital’s emergency room is “carrying unanswered questions” about her death, says the grand chief of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization.

Mary Bull-Sinclair died at her grandmother’s home in O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation on March 21 — five days after she broke her arm while tobogganing, her uncle Burton Flett said at a news conference Monday.

Paramedics who went to the home on March 16 told Mary’s mother to prepare for a trip to Winnipeg’s Children’s Hospital, but Flett said that trip never came.

“Mary’s only stop was at Dauphin [Regional Health Centre], where she was diagnosed with a broken arm [and] discharged without any care plan,” he said. “She simply received a note saying she would need to stay out of school for two weeks.”

The nine-year-old was not examined by a doctor during that visit, and there were no discussions about casting her arm although her mother asked about it, said Flett.

After first going to the Dauphin hospital on March 16, Mary went home in agonizing pain and had to sleep sitting up in a chair, propped up by pillows, he said.

“It’s difficult to live with this memory of our beloved Mary being in so much pain.”

The girl’s pain became unmanageable and she was taken back to the hospital on March 20, where Flett says she was given a new sling and sent home with no medication.

“Mary was crying, and so was her mother. She wanted to go back to the hospital. Her mother was at a loss at what to do,” he said. “They didn’t know what to do after being sent home from the hospital two times.”

The girl’s family noticed discolouration on her chest on March 21. Her mother was cooking that day when she saw Mary asleep on her broken arm, Flett said.

Soon after, Mary’s mother noticed her fingers were turning purple and fluid was leaking from her mouth and nose.

“An ambulance was called for Mary, but it was too late,” said Flett.

‘So much pain’

So far, the family does not know what the cause of death was.

Flett, who wore purple — Mary’s favourite colour — said they deserve a full understanding of what happened to Mary, and they’re calling for a “transparent review” of the care she got at the Dauphin hospital.

“Our family needs healing now, as Mary’s passing has caused us so much pain.”

Southern Chiefs’ Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels said Manitoba’s chief medical examiner’s office is investigating Mary’s death, but hasn’t offered any updates.

“I don’t think that the proper care was done, and that’s what we want the public to know,” Daniels said at Monday’s news conference, which was hosted by the Southern Chiefs’ Organization in Winnipeg, about 230 kilometres southeast of O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi.

“There should have been at least a blood test done.”

The child’s family has also consented to an in-depth autopsy and additional testing, a news release from the Southern Chiefs’ Organization said.

Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said in a statement to CBC News they hope the in-depth autopsy helps bring closure to Mary’s family.

The RCMP are also investigating the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death, Asagwara said. The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth could also conduct a review to determine whether further action is needed.

Asagwara declined to comment on the specific circumstances of the care Mary received, or to speculate on what happened, out of respect for the ongoing investigations.

The minister wrote they plan to contact the family “to offer my condolences and support during this difficult time.”

Daniels said Mary’s death reflects the “cultural challenge” that First Nations people face when accessing health-care services in Canada on a daily basis.

“No family should have to experience the loss of a child [and] be left carrying unanswered questions while grieving such a profound loss,” he said.

“We owe it to her family, to the community to ensure every question will be examined carefully and that any lessons learned here lead to meaningful change.”

Prairie Mountain Health, the regional health authority that oversees the Dauphin Regional Health Centre, declined to comment on the girl’s death, citing privacy legislation.