Brampton Civic Hospital under fire after man dies under suicide watch
Posted May 22, 2015 8:57 pm.
Last Updated May 22, 2015 9:03 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Tiwari family is looking into an allegation that staff at Brampton Civic Hospital were at a potluck lunch when their son killed himself while under suicide watch.
In February, the family launched a wrongful death lawsuit against the hospital and 18 staff members from the psychiatric ward.
They claim their mentally ill son Prashant, 20, was left alone for nearly three hours, when he was supposed to be checked on every 15 minutes. He committed suicide last year.
The allegations about the potluck came “from a reliable source” in the civil suit, according to family lawyer Michael Smitiuch, and could prompt criminal charges.
Lawyer Bruce Daley said he will press Peel police to start an investigation.
“It would be up to the police officers working closely with a senior Crown to determine whether or not there would be a reasonable prospect of conviction,” he said.
Meanwhile, the chief coroner rejected the family’s request for an inquest into Prashant’s death because it was deemed there was no systematic public safety issue.
The Tiwaris are taking the case to the superior court in a bid to have the decision overturned.
“There have been 300 similar deaths across Canada over the last 10 years, including 100 in Ontario,” Smitiuch said.
“We say one more is too many.”
The William Osler Health System, which includes Brampton Civic, wouldn’t comment on the specific case, but said there are processes in place to make sure the hospital is properly staffed regardless of social activities.
