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Case

Misjudgment with fatal consequences

A youth nurse advises a young mother to cut off all contact with her baby's father. Within two weeks, the father is dead. Not from violence, but from grief and addiction. What began as well-intentioned youth care ended in irreparable loss.

A family without a voice

The father had just gotten his life back on track when he was told not to see his newborn child. The juvenile nurse gave this urgent advice to the mother, without hearing anything. She even threatened out-of-home placement if the mother opened the door to him. The father, just clean, sank into grief and used again. Two weeks later he was found to have died of an overdose.

Why the family sought help

The paternal grandparents were intimately involved in the baby's care. They did not understand why they had not been informed, let alone heard. They felt left out. They wanted clarity. And recognition.

Unauthorized and careless

The youth nurse did not have the authority to give such far-reaching advice. Yet she did. Without legal basis, without hearing both sides of the argument, without factual verification. What made her actions extra serious was that she requested and used medical information without permission. Much of it turned out not to be correct.

How I proceeded

Through a disciplinary complaint to the Regional Health Disciplinary Tribunal, I tried to rectify the situation. With the family's permission, I was given access to the medical file under the BIG Act. In it I saw that the youth nurse had gone beyond her duties. She based her advice on incomplete and incorrect information. And gave the family no chance to tell their side of the story.

How I look back on this case

This case touched me deeply. If the father had been heard, taken seriously, this may never have happened. As a personal injury lawyer at Beer Lawyers, I remain committed to uncovering these kinds of mistakes. Because no one should be a victim of a system that is meant to protect.

Do you have questions about this, please contact Mildred Brun.

Result

The college found that the youth nurse had acted in a seriously culpable manner. She was given a warning. In my view, a light measure, given the impact. But it was an official finding of wrongdoing. For the family, this achieved the most important thing: recognition. The feeling that their grief was seen and taken seriously. They now know that they have rights. And that professionals within youth care must abide by them, precisely because the consequences can be so far-reaching.

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