Posted on 01/27/2007 10:30:59 AM PST by starzed_
OPP probes nursing home death; Resident, 65, was left outside Gore Bay facility when he went for a smoke -ON Sudbury Star- January 25, 2007 by Laura Stradiotto Local News - Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a nursing home resident who was found outdoors in a courtyard Jan.16. Detectives from the Ontario Provincial Police's crime unit in Orillia were at the Manitoulin Lodge in Gore Bay on Wednesday. Nursing home resident Murray Myles Patterson, 65, was transported to the Mindemoya Hospital on Jan. 16 and died a day later. In a statement released Wednesday by the Manitoulin Lodge, officials said the resident was discovered in the courtyard "sometime after the established smoking period." The nursing home said first aid and medical care were provided on site, and extended condolences to the family. Manitoulin residents The Sudbury Star spoke to said Murray went out for a smoke with two other residents. While the two residents returned indoors, Murray did not accompany them. By the time someone realized Patterson was missing, he was found outdoors suffering from the cold temperature. Weather forecasts reported the temperature dropped to -16 C on the evening of Jan. 16. A post-mortem examination was conducted on Wednesday in Sudbury, but results were not final. "It's a little more than just a resident of a long-term-care facility passing on," said Const. Al Boyd of the Manitoulin Island OPP. "There are some suspicious circumstances." Boyd said there should be no concern for the safety of other residents or the community of Gore Bay. He explained "it's not your normal person dying of (natural) causes in a long-term-care facility." Police were also interviewing witnesses at the nursing home. Patterson was a single resident at the nursing home. He suffered from physical disabilities that prohibited him from living independently, said Boyd. According to his obituary, Patterson was born in Burpee Township. He leaves behind his wife, Gail, three children and eight grandchildren and five living siblings. Boyd called the investigation a "high-profile" case. "It's an investigation that is very intensive because it's a high-profile situation where there is a suspicious death of a resident of a long-term care facility," said Boyd. News of the suspicious death comes as public hearings are being held across the province surrounding proposed new legislation at long term care facilities. The proposed Long-Term Care Homes Act would require, among other things,Ontario's 613 nursing homes to have a registered nurse on duty around the clock and mandates annual surprise inspections. Nickel Belt NDP Shelley Martel said she's hearing the same concerns across Ontario. She said significant understaffing at Ontario nursing homes is having a negative effect on the quality of care staff can provide residents. Unions representing nurses and other long-term care workers have criticized the bill for not setting minimum staffing levels. They are demanding the government require 3.5 hours of care a day for each resident and pay for the staffing. http://www.thesudburystar.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentID=375035&catname=Local+News
Many homes can't afford the $60- 100,000 needed to comply with strict ventilation requirements. Especially since they have recently upgraded their smoking rooms.
"The controlled smoking area must be equipped with a separate ventilation system that supplies a minimum ventilation rate of 30 litres per second per person for the maximum permitted occupancy of the controlled smoking area and that exhausts to the exterior of the building." Does hurricane force winds come to mind? I beleive it should, and isn't needed.
ontario regulation 48/06
made under the Smoke-free ontario act http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/DBLaws/Source/Regs/English/2006/R06048_e.htm
Socialist over-regulation is not without fatalities.
FReeper blinded wile reading article lacking paragraphs. =)
The arrogant, selfish, smug, self-righteous, condescending nanny culture kills people. Simple as that.
What a bunch of intolerant and junk science fascists.
Thank God this person died doing something they enjoy. The policy, not the cigarette is what killed them.
Look - another smoker killed by the nazis. Bet they blame the death on "smoking."
They make elderly smokers go into sub-zero weather?? That's PC gone wild.
I'm sorry for the fomatting problems, I don't post much here.
I guess I still have learning curve to battle.
"Bet they blame the death on "smoking."
Of course they do. Otherwise the headline would have read:
"Elderly patient dies being left out in the cold"
"Grandpa dies of exposure, due to "protect the elderly" socialist law."
Hey - no problem!
if he wants to smoke that's one thing.....if he wants a free govt ride and a free home and free care, then maybe this man should have quit smoking ....
its like allowing liver transplant patients to go out and have a 3 martini lunch.....
That's what I was thinking. Nobody forced this genius to sit outside in the cold to smoke, it was his decision. Let's see, stay inside where it's warm and don't smoke or go outside in sub freezing temps to have a cig. Sounds like a no brainer to me.
65 years old, in a nursing home, needs a cigarette so bad he will sit outside in sub-freezing weather to have one. I'm guessing emphysema or cancer and his family was sick to death of caring for this cigarette addicted lame brain at home.
My mom died of COPD (emphysema) from smoking 2 to 3 packs a day. She even took her little oxygen tank into the smoking room of her assisted living facility. She sneaked cigarettes into and smoked in her private room, totally forbidden.
She also said that she'd rather smoke than breathe.
I think that cigarettes or nicotine are as addictive as heroin.
I don't know, I've never tried either.
Most people are ok with that. Just ask the DEA.
She sneaked cigarettes into and smoked in her private room, totally forbidden.
There is something so sad about this. I swear elderly have to go back to teenager type activities of sneaking around. I am a non-smoker, but I definitely think that everyone should be able to do what the heck they want as an adult. Goodness didn't she give enough to society to be able to have a cigarette when she wanted. I am sorry that she had a rough death, but it seems like she went the way she wanted. I am really sorry that you had to see your mom pass away.
"This nursing home is his private property (his home)."
He owns the nursing home? Or is he renting a room at a facility owned by someone else?
This is a home to these people. Just because you rent a apartment does that now mean that you lose property rights, and the police don't have to knock on your door?
Summit retirement Home case dismissed due to it being a home and not a workplace
http://www.canlii.org/on/cas/oncj/2004/2004oncj71.html
BTW what is the DEA (being Canadian, I don't know the answer to that question)
In the US, the DEA is Drug Enforcement Agency. I'm not sure why the other poster mentioned it.
IMHO, the home has to look out for all residents, not just the ones who choose to smoke. The guy chose a non-smoking facility to move into so he has to follow their rules. He chose to go outside to smoke in sub freezing temps, no one forced him. He made all of his own choices.
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