A Quebec coroner is urging the province’s health authorities to enhance their efforts in preventing and managing spinal cord injuries after a quadriplegic individual sought medical assistance in dying in March 2024 due to bedsores following an emergency room stay. Normand Meunier, aged 66, endured four days on a stretcher in Saint-Jérôme Hospital’s emergency room in January 2024 without access to a specialized mattress due to the hospital being overcrowded, as stated in a report by coroner Dave Kimpton released on Tuesday.
The pressure sore on Meunier’s buttocks deteriorated to the extent of exposing bone and muscle, leading to a grim recovery outlook. Kimpton’s report emphasizes the necessity of immediate and guaranteed access to therapeutic mattresses for spinal cord injury patients. Additionally, he calls for the establishment of an advisory committee in the province to prevent and address bedsores through innovative tools and training, stressing the importance of a multidisciplinary approach.
During a public inquiry into Meunier’s passing earlier this year, testimonies from Saint-Jérôme Hospital staff, Meunier’s widow Sylvie Brosseau, and MEMO-Qc, an advocacy group for individuals with spinal cord injuries, were heard. Brosseau criticized the Saint-Jérôme Hospital as “grossly negligent,” highlighting the disregard for her repeated pleas regarding Meunier’s need for a suitable mattress and the worsening of his wounds.
Kimpton notes a fundamental shift in institutional culture is imperative, given the expertise developed by patients with spinal cord injuries and their partners that should be acknowledged. He further mentions a breakdown in trust between Brosseau and the hospital staff during Meunier’s final visit, where Brosseau felt compelled to challenge the healthcare professionals.
Meunier initially developed bedsores after multiple hospitalizations in 2022, with the condition becoming incurable by fall 2023. The specialized nurse attending to his wounds focused on managing existing sores and preventing new ones. Kimpton highlights that all identified injuries worsened during hospital stays, with facilities focusing mainly on the initial reported issue without adequate consideration of Meunier’s vulnerability to bedsores.
The coroner directs his recommendations to various healthcare entities, including Santé Québec, the CISSS des Laurentides managing Saint-Jérôme Hospital, Quebec’s Health Ministry, the Collège des médecins, and Quebec’s order of nurses. The CISSS des Laurentides expressed readiness to implement improvement measures following Meunier’s demise.
Kimpton praises Brosseau as a determined advocate for Meunier, describing her as a “real warrior.” He expresses hope that his recommendations will catalyze positive changes in the approach to spinal cord injury care, acknowledging the need for comprehensive reforms inspired by his findings.
