Family Seeks Answers After Hospital Tragedy
A Winnipeg family claims their 68-year-old mother’s death resulted from delayed diagnosis during an emergency room visit at St. Boniface Hospital. Judy Burns was rushed to the hospital in the early hours of January 18 after being found unresponsive, pale, and delirious, according to her daughter Chelsea Mann.
Critical Care Timeline
Mann recounted that hospital staff initially diagnosed her mother with dehydration and diverticulosis after a brief wait. Despite assurances from medical staff that Burns would recover within 48 hours, the family immediately requested an endoscopy. “She wasn’t OK,” Mann emphasized, describing their persistent concerns about her mother’s condition.
Later that evening, Burns suffered a stroke and cardiac arrest. Emergency surgery revealed a small intestinal ulcer. “We were told she’d been bleeding internally all day,” Mann stated. “If a scope had happened sooner, our mom would still be here.” Burns survived surgery but was placed in a medically induced coma before passing away three days later when life support was withdrawn.
Hospital and Health Ministry Respond
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority confirmed medical leadership at St. Boniface Hospital is reviewing the circumstances. A spokesperson stated: “Appropriate follow-up is being determined through this process.”
Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara extended condolences to the family while confirming a separate review. “Determinations about critical incidents follow established patient safety criteria under clinical expert guidance,” the minister explained regarding the ongoing evaluation.
A Family’s Emotional Toll
Mann described her mother as the family’s emotional anchor, recalling daily FaceTime calls between Burns and her grandson. “I left the hospital thinking I’d see her again,” she said tearfully. “By 8:30 that night, she was on life support.” The family formally documented their concerns in a communication to hospital administration the day after Burns’ death.
