Quadripergic Man chose medical help in dying after “horror” hospital stay

• Canadian authorities investigate a Quebec hospital treatment of a quadripgic man whose health deteriorated according to what his wife called a “horrible” hospital stay
• Normand Meunier visited the emergency room for a respiratory virus and spent four days allegedly on a stretcher and developed a severe bedside that was infected
• Because of the “horrible” stay, he chose medical help in dying rather than returning to the hospital as the injury continued

A quadripergic man chose to legally end his life after a “horrible” emergency room that left him with a serious bedsore. Now the Canadian authorities are investigating his death.

Normand Meunier, from Quebec, worked as a truck driver before a spinal cord injury in 2022 left his arms and legs paralyzed. In January 2024, the 66-year-old was adopted at the emergency room at Saint-Jérôme Hospital due to a breathing virus. During that time, his wife Sylvie Brosseau says that she requested that he, as a Quadripegic, receive a specialized mattress that displaces pressure points to prevent beds.

But she told me CBC News That Meunier remained stuck on a stretcher for four days. He finally developed a painful sore so severe that the leg and muscles were exposed. The couple was told that the sore – a gaping hole a few centimeters in diameter – would take several months to heal.

“It was horrible. He had no ham. There was nothing left,” Brosseau said. “Every time we had to ask for the special mattress that never came. It was a constant battle.”

“Ninety -one hours on a stretcher, unacceptable,” she told Radio Canada. “Every time we go to the hospital, it is my duty to tell them that Normand is Quadripegic and needs a changing pressure mattress … I do not understand how this can happen, because a mattress is the most basic thing.”

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CISSS des Laurentides, the local health authority that owns Saint-Jérôme Hospital, said in a statement to CBC at the time of Meunier’s death that it took his case “very seriously” and an “internal investigation is underway to shed light on the events.”

Due to the degree of bed, Meunier had to undergo two debridements, which is “removal of devitalized tissue”, according to National Institute of Health.

Brosseau told CBC that with a long and painful recovery forward, her husband finally decided to choose medical help in dying (maid) rather than returning to the hospital. Meunier had the alternative available to him according to Canada’s maid legislation, which came into force in June 2016. The law allows patients with terminal diseases to end their lives with fatal medication either taken or administered by a doctor or nurse.

“His last two weeks … it was horror,” Brossau revokedTold the outlet that she thought the system was “completely negligent” when it came to his care.

The day before his death, Meunier told Radio-Canada that he preferred to end his physical and psychological suffering. “I don’t want to be a burden,” he said. “In any case, the medical views say that I will not be a burden for a long time; as the old ones say, it is better to kick in can.”

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Meunier died on March 29, 2024.

The Health Authority told CBC at that time that it had 145 therapeutic mattresses with varying pressure, but none in emergency recipients.

“An emergency room is not a suitable place for this type of mattress, since beds are not used in an emergency room, they are stretches (and) there is not really a mattress that is adapted (to be placed on) a stretcher,” said Steve Desjardins, head of a nurse at CISSSS des Laurentides.

“An emergency room is a more risky place for a fragile person. This is why we will work actively if necessary to give them access to a bed in an inpatient device.”

A public investigation has now been launched by Canadian authorities to investigate Meunier’s treatment at the hospital.

While gathered in the Montreal Courthouse on May 5, Coroner Dave Kimpton – who is chairman of the investigation – explained that he will hear from nurses, doctors, advocates and Brosseau. Kimpton noted that the goal is not to put the guilt without making recommendations to avoid similar situations in the future.

Steven Laperrière, Director General of Rapliq – an advocate group that supports people with disabilities – told reporters that Meunier’s case is a “crying shame.”

“What do we do to help disabled people or sick people live in dignity before they die in dignity?

Personnel and officials from Saint-Jérôme Hospital are expected to testify as the public hearing continues this week. The public investigation ends June 6.