Four years have passed since a 24-year-old Indigenous woman died at a hospital in St. Catharines, Ontario, leaving her family seeking answers from a delayed coroner’s inquest into the circumstances surrounding her lack of adequate medical attention.
Heather Winterstein visited what was then known as St. Catharines General Hospital, now the Marotta Family Hospital, on December 9, 2021, complaining of a severe backache. Despite being sent home with Tylenol, she returned the next day and collapsed in the waiting area, succumbing shortly after due to a Strep A blood infection.
Winterstein’s aunt, Jill Lunn, expressed the family’s devastation over her passing, believing it could have been prevented. Described as a gentle soul who adored her family, animals, and the color pink, Winterstein had ties to the Saugeen and Six Nations of the Grand River first nations. The family suspects that systemic racism and biases may have hindered Winterstein’s access to proper medical evaluation and care, prompting their call for change through the upcoming coroner’s inquest.
The inquest, delayed for years as commonly seen, was initiated last year by the Ministry of the Solicitor General to delve into the circumstances surrounding Winterstein’s death and potentially yield recommendations from a jury. However, no specific schedule or venue has been set for the inquest, citing the complexity of the case and a surge in mandatory inquests since 2016.
Linda Boich, a vice-president at Niagara Health overseeing patient experience and integrated care, acknowledged Winterstein’s tragic demise and the broader concerns of racism and bias in healthcare. A third-party panel, at Niagara Health’s request, investigated the events leading to Winterstein’s passing, revealing that she was discharged without assessment despite abnormal vital signs during her initial hospital visit.
The panel noted that Winterstein’s diagnosis initially leaned towards social issues rather than physical illness, indicating a potential unconscious bias due to her perceived addiction and homelessness. Niagara Health has accepted all recommendations from the panel and implemented various measures, including mandatory cultural safety training, an Indigenous-dedicated space at the hospital, and an Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation team.
Looking ahead to the pending inquiry, Lunn expressed hope for justice for her niece and emphasized the critical need for lasting and impactful changes in Indigenous healthcare. She stressed the urgency of dismantling anti-Indigenous racism and bias across all levels of healthcare institutions, advocating for increased Indigenous representation in healthcare roles and equitable access to substance use treatment and counseling services.
