Family sues Sherbrooke rehab centre over son's death
CBC News
Posted: Dec 5, 2012 9:16 PM ET
Last Updated: Dec 5, 2012 10:05 PM ET
Sébastien Roy suffered from serious mental impairments and epilepsy but the coroner's report states he was not given his medication at the appropriate times while staying at a rehabilitation centre in Sherbrooke. (The Bertrand family)
A family is launching a lawsuit against a rehabilitation centre in Sherbrooke, Que. after their son died while in the staff's care.
Jean-Pierre Ménard, the lawyer representing the Bertrand family, is suing the Centre Notre-Dame de L'enfant rehabilitation centre for $241,000.
In August 2010, Diane Bertrand and her husband took their 33-year-old son, Sébastien Roy, to the centre in Sherbrooke for a two-week stay so they could take time for themselves.
Sébastien, who needed constant care, suffered from severe mental impairments and epilepsy. According to a coroner's report, he drowned after having a seizure while taking a bath unattended.
According to court documents, first respondents attempted to reanimate Sébastien but were unable to do so.
The coroner's report states staff at the Centre Notre-Dame de L'enfant did not give him his medication for epilepsy despite being told to do so in hand-written notes left by his family.
The rehabilitation services director, Carolyn Léonard wouldn't discuss the report.
Ménard said he hopes the lawsuit will lead to improved care and services across the province.
"Because they receive so little services, they fear to lose what they receive," said Ménard. "Unless it is a very very dramatic situation, people will be very reluctant to complain."
Share Tools
Latest Montreal News Headlines
- PQ's proposed changes to Bill 14 leave critics skeptical
- Two Parti Québécois ministers have published an open letter outlining amendments to Bill 14, a controversial bill that aims to revamp the province's language laws. more »
- STM drivers' union calls again for stiffer penalties to prevent assaults
- Montreal bus drivers showed up for a scheduled court appearance of one of three people accused of beating up STM driver Marc-Olivier Fortin, to call for more protection for transit workers. more »
- Pierre's picks: 5 don't-miss events in Montreal this weekend
- Every Friday, CBC Montreal's Homerun arts reporter Pierre Landry brings you the top five things to see and do in Montreal this weekend. more »
- 2 earthquakes felt in Ontario and Quebec
- Two earthquakes near the Ontario-Quebec border could be felt across both provinces this morning. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- Senator Pamela Wallin leaves Conservative caucus
- Senator Pamela Wallin says she is recusing herself from the Conservative caucus while her travel expense claims are under scrutiny. Wallin's departure comes one day after Senator Mike Duffy left the Tory caucus amid controversy over his expense claims. more »
- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford denies crack cocaine allegations
- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says allegations he was caught on tape smoking crack are "ridiculous," following reports that someone had been trying to sell a purported recording of such an event to U.S. and Canadian media outlets. more »
- Sailor fighting cancer says AWOL charges dropped
- All charges against a Nova Scotia woman in the Royal Canadian Navy who is fighting cancer, and who was charged with being absent without leave and facing a court martial have been dropped, the woman and her lawyer say. more »
- Should genetic testing for cancer be available to all Canadians?
- The revelation that Hollywood celebrity Angelina Jolie had a double mastectomy as a preventative measure against cancer stoked heated discussion this past week, but one prominent cancer researcher says it demonstrates the need to make genetic testing available to all Canadians. more »
- 12 young leaders changing Canada in this week's Generation Why
- If the number of young entrepreneurs and innovators in Canada is any indication, the generation that came of age alongside the modern web is ready to rethink everything. Meet 12 young people our readers nominated as the most dedicated, impressive, creative and intelligent Canadians under the age of 30 they know. more »
Most Viewed/Commented
- PQ's proposed changes to Bill 14 leave critics skeptical
- 2 earthquakes felt in Ontario and Quebec
- Pierre's picks: 5 don't-miss events in Montreal this weekend
- Woman accused of murder testifies that she was too drunk
- Luka Magnotta trial date set for fall 2014
- Montreal unveils new locations for food trucks
- Extremely potent painkiller hits Montreal black market
- New fake-RCMP computer scam fools Canadians
- Police arrest 18 in 2 separate Quebec drug ring busts
