Man treated in Winnipeg hospital for COVID-19 developed 'life-threatening' bedsore after 68-day coma: lawsuit

A Manitoba man who was admitted to St. Boniface General Hospital for a COVID-19 infection two years ago is suing the Winnipeg hospital and several staff, alleging inadequate care led to him developing a large bedsore when he was in a medically induced coma.

Guy Bouvier, who is from the southern Manitoba community of Otterburne, alleges staff at the hospital breached their duty to care for him, which led to a "preventable, life-threatening" Stage 4 pressure ulcer on his lower back — the most severe type of bedsore, in which a deep wound can affect muscles, tendons and bones.

Bouvier was intubated and put into an induced coma when he went to the hospital in December 2021 after he was infected with COVID-19, according to a statement of claim filed Dec. 8 in Manitoba Court of King's Bench.

He stayed in the coma for 68 days, until February 2022.

Once pandemic restrictions in place at the time were lifted, and his family could visit him for the first time, they noticed Bouvier's body "had not been cleaned properly or at all" and that he had a wide and deep pressure ulcer, which measured 15 centimetres by 15 centimetres by 10 centimetres, according to the claim.

He also developed a lung infection, severe kidney damage and neuropathy in his hands and feet, the suit claims, and as a result "continues to live with a debilitating injury" and is "unable to return to the lifestyle he enjoyed."

"Bouvier has experienced and continues to experience pain, suffering, disability [and] discomfort," the claim says.

His suit against the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, the hospital and nine doctors and nurses who worked there claims general damages for pain and suffering, special damages related to the cost of past and future medical care, and damages for loss of income, among other relief.

Treatment wasn't timely: lawsuit

The claim alleges the staff and the hospital didn't treat Bouvier's ulcer properly, which caused the infection to get worse. Staff failed to monitor and regularly reposition Bouvier while in his comatose state, which would minimize the risk of developing the ulcer, the suit claims.

Once his ulcer grew to a dangerous size, Bouvier also underwent ostomy surgery, the suit says — an operation that allows bodily waste to pass from the intestines through a surgically created opening on the abdomen, which is then collected into an ostomy bag.

The claim also alleges staff breached their duty of care to Bouvier by failing to provide timely treatment and perform the procedures he underwent properly. It also alleges the hospital failed to maintain proper hospital procedures or train and supervise its staff.

CBC contacted the law firm representing Bouvier for comment but hadn't heard back by publication time.

The health authority declined to comment on the lawsuit.

None of the allegations in the lawsuit have been proven in court and no statements of defence have been filed.