Moncton hospital's treatment of mental health patient being investigated

A Moncton man says he's pleased the provincial Ombudsman is investigating the alleged mistreatment of his sister, a psychiatric patient at the Moncton Hospital.

Paul Ouellet made a complaint to the Ombudsman's office concerning the way his sister Lorette was treated during her stay in the facility's psychiatric ward in January of this year.

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"I was very much relieved, extremely happy, to hear that something is going to be done in regards to investigating the whole situation," said Ouellet. "I'm speaking here not only for my sister Lorette, who I dearly love, but also for each and every mental health patient ... here in the province of New Brunswick."

Ouellet received confirmation that the Ombudsman would be investigating this issue April 28th.

Ouellet alleges that his sister, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, was falsely charged with assaulting a nurse.

She was arrested by RCMP, taken to a holding cell in just her hospital gown, and put in wrist shackles, he said.

The Crown dropped the charges on March 7.

Rare arrest at hospital

It's only the second time charges were laid in such a case at the psychiatric facility, to the recollection of Moncton Hospitals' Dr. Dinesh Bhalla.

"When we cannot contain the situation or we know that the situation is completely out of hand, then the police are called and they always come in and they treat the patient with dignity," said Dr. Bhalla. "They know that they are mental health patients and the RCMP work wonderfully with us in terms of de-escalating the situation first."

The Office of the Ombudsman would not comment on the investigation, citing confidentiality concerns.

Ouellet hopes the investigation will mean "being able to correct a situation that never should have happened."

According to its website, typically once the Ombudsman decides to investigate a matter, the government organization concerned is given notice of the investigation.

Investigators will then begin gathering evidence in order for the Ombudsman to make his findings and recommendations.

The results are then published in the Ombudsman's Annual Report, and the affected government organization is encouraged to report back concerning its efforts to implement the recommendations.

In a written statement, the Horizon Health Network said it "will cooperate with the investigation of the Ombudsman, as we would with any investigation into the treatment of our patient."