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Testimony continues at fatality inquiry

May 4, 2017 | 3:52 PM

 

Warning: Some readers may find details in this story disturbing. Discretion is advised.

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Family members of Glenn Piche heard more details on Thursday surrounding his death from the people who discovered him.

The 49-year-old man took his own life while in care at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital in June of 2013.

The three day inquiry into his death is something the family has been pushing for since his death nearly four years ago.

The court previously heard from the admitting psychiatrist, Dr. Aditi Patel.

Piche was placed on a 30 minute watch, meaning staff would check on him and make sure he was safe every half an hour.

Depending on the risk of the patient, staff may be required to check on patients every five minutes or once an hour. It’s up to the doctor to make that decision.

The court heard from five individuals, including Lana Jacob, who was working security the night Piche hanged himself.

Jacob was in charge of checking on the patients, following the doctor’s orders.

Notes were made on an observation report as to where each patient was, including Piche, at the scheduled time. Any unusual behaviour was verbally given to the nurses.

Jacob said she was on break at 10:30 p.m. and a nursing attendant, Sharon Roberts, took over observing the patients.

At that time, the report states that Piche was in bed.

Jacob returned from her break and checked on Piche again at 11 p.m., half an hour after Roberts had completed her check.

She opened the door to his room and saw him hanging from the bathroom door. A sheet had been tied around his neck.

Jacob wiped tears from her eyes as she recalled screaming his name and said the sheet was so tight, she couldn’t get it off by herself.

Jacob also explained to the court that she knew Piche from outside of the hospital. The two volunteered together at the Dream Centre and even described him as a “very nice man”.

Tabitha Keen was next to testify. She, too, described Piche as cooperative, polite and quiet.

Keen was the charge nurse on duty the night of June 20th.

She didn’t recall anything out of the ordinary about Piche during her shift.

Keen heard someone yell, “call code blue”. She remembered being on the phone at the time she heard someone yell, but immediately hung up and dialed the announcement before running to Piche’s room where she found him already on the floor.

Roberts was the third witness to speak.

She said she didn’t have much interaction with Piche, other than taking his blood pressure and checking on him while Jacob was on break.

She said she stood at the door, saw that he was breathing and he appeared to be asleep.

Roberts said she was cleaning in the dining room when she heard Jacob scream Piche’s name.

Court will meet again on Friday to hear the final witness testimony.