Death in a shelter: four recommendations from the coroner

Photo courtesy
Serge-André Guérin.

Jean-François Desbiens

Tuesday, 27 February, 2018 14:19

UPDATE
Tuesday, 27-feb-2018 14:22

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The coroner Richard Drapeau has made public the findings of its investigation report on the assault with a deadly occurrence on October 3, 2016 at the accommodation Centre Argyll Sherbrooke. It recommends, in particular, to increase the monitoring of users who commit regular assaults.

Serge-André Guérin, 73 years old, died a violent death. The man had a heart condition precarious. The aggression of which he was the victim in his room by another beneficiary who was hit in the face has contributed to the deterioration of his health and contributed to his death.

The attacker, who has dementia, was not his first act of violence. He had been involved in several altercations with other beneficiaries.

On the evening of October 3, 2016, he had even attempted to hit a staff member. Brought back to his room so that he would calm, he had been left free to move without any particular supervision.

The coroner inquired whether the unit 2, where it was hosted was appropriate to his behavioral problems.

The unit 1 comprises the case heavier and would probably have been better suited for the man who exhibited behavioral symptoms qualified to serious.

“Should one give priority to the safety of other road users very vulnerable, or the freedom of the aggressive, unpredictable, and that has already hurt” asks the coroner.

The latter has issued four recommendations to the CIUSSS of the eastern Townships-CHUS:

• Note: every act of aggression in the person’s file and ensure that the medical team be informed
• Review the criteria used to determine in which unit a user should be placed
• Increase monitoring of users who commit regular assaults
• And to respond to the 16 recommendations of its ad-hoc committee

The authorities had to react on the findings of this report, on Tuesday afternoon.

The wife of Serge-André Guerin has said to be satisfied with the report and its recommendations; his desire is that they be applied in their entirety.

Jeannette Rousseau has not commenced an action in damages. The man who has assaulted his spouse was not aware of what he was doing and was not the subject of any criminal charge. The money she would have been able to receive him back not his or her spouse. The lady prefers that this money is rather invested in the services, qualified personnel and the improvement of safety measures for vulnerable beneficiaries in NURSING homes.