Manitoba health minister gives update on investigation into HSC patient’s death

Shared Health is investigating the death of a patient in the HSC emergency department waiting room. Taylor Brock has more.

A critical incident investigation into the death of an emergency room patient in Winnipeg is expected to wrap up in a few weeks’ time.

Chad Giffin, a 49-year-old Winnipeg man, died Jan. 7 while waiting for care at Health Sciences Centre.

In a statement Friday, Manitoba’s health minister said they received a preliminary update from Shared Health.

“Final autopsy results, including toxicology findings, are expected by the end of next week,” Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara wrote. “The patient’s family will be notified of the autopsy findings as soon as the report is ready.”

Asagwara noted the critical incident investigation will conclude at least two weeks after the autopsy results are shared.

Giffin was taken to HSC by ambulance shortly after midnight on Jan. 7 after he was found out in the cold.

Shared Health officials previously said Giffin was assessed as a low-acuity patient. They said he was triaged and told to inform HSC staff if his condition changed.

At around 8 a.m., officials said Giffin’s condition had significantly worsened. Hospital staff took him into a room for resuscitation, but Giffin died.

Giffin’s family previously told CTV News the 49-year-old struggled with his mental health and battled drug addiction. He estranged himself from the family about 10 years ago, and his sister was unsure if he was homeless prior to his death.

She said the family wants to know what happened to Giffin from the time he was triaged until he was pronounced dead.

Shared Health officials said Giffin was reassessed in the waiting room during the eight-hour stretch.

HSC’s chief operating officer, Dr. Shawn Young, said there were approximately 100 patients in the emergency department that night – and roughly 50 people were in the waiting room.

His death was deemed a critical incident by Shared Health officials – triggering an investigation to examine the circumstances surrounding his death and how future incidents can be prevented.

“This patient died without the dignity and compassion every Manitoban has a right to receive at the end of their life,” Asagwara wrote. “Our government is working to put system changes in place that will align with recommendations from the critical incident review process and we look forward to sharing these with the public once we are able.”