Four years have passed since the tragic death of a 24-year-old Indigenous woman at a hospital in St. Catharines, Ontario. The family of Heather Winterstein is still awaiting a coroner’s inquest to uncover the reasons behind the lack of adequate medical care provided to her.
Winterstein sought treatment at the Marotta Family Hospital, formerly known as St. Catharines General Hospital, on December 9, 2021, complaining of severe back pain. Despite being sent home with Tylenol, she returned the following day and collapsed in the waiting area, succumbing shortly after to a Strep A blood infection.
Describing Winterstein as a gentle soul who cherished her family, animals, and the color pink, her aunt, Jill Lunn, emphasized that the family believes her death could have been prevented. Winterstein’s heritage includes ties to both the Saugeen and Six Nations of the Grand River First Nations.
The family suspects that Winterstein did not receive proper medical attention due to systemic racism and biases at the hospital. They are hopeful that a coroner’s inquest will shed light on these issues and potentially lead to reforms benefiting other Indigenous patients.
The Ministry of the Solicitor General announced an upcoming inquest to investigate the circumstances surrounding Winterstein’s death and allow a jury to make recommendations. However, no specific date or location has been set for the inquest yet.
A review conducted by a third-party panel at the request of Niagara Health revealed that Winterstein was discharged without a proper assessment despite displaying abnormal vital signs during her initial visit to the hospital. The panel also noted that her diagnosis focused more on social issues rather than physical ailments.
During her return to the hospital the next day, Winterstein endured a distressing wait of two-and-a-half hours, as captured in video footage analyzed by the panel. The report highlighted instances where non-medical staff and fellow patients tried to assist her before her collapse.
Niagara Health acknowledged the concerns about racism and bias in healthcare and expressed commitment to addressing and improving these issues. The health organization has implemented various changes, including mandatory cultural safety training for staff, establishing an Indigenous space at the hospital, and creating an Indigenous Health Services and Reconciliation team.
Winterstein’s family is optimistic that justice will prevail once the inquest takes place. They hope for enduring and impactful changes in Indigenous healthcare, emphasizing the need to combat anti-Indigenous racism and bias across all levels of healthcare institutions. This includes increasing the presence of Indigenous healthcare providers and ensuring equitable access to substance use treatment and counseling services.