Patient died of hanging while in Moncton psychiatric unit
It’s been just over a year since Kali Hemsworth’s younger sister died suddenly.
According to her autopsy, Kaytlyn Hemsworth died of hanging at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton, N.B., while in the psychiatric unit.
She was just 19.
Hemsworth says she's received very few details about the circumstances of her sister’s death.
“All I knew was that my sister had hung herself. It was very fuzzy on the details of how she took her life. They weren’t willing to have a discussion and explain exactly what happened to her,” said Hemsworth.
Hemsworth, who said she’s speaking on behalf of the family, believes her sister’s death could have been prevented.
Vitalité sent a statement via email to CTV News Friday afternoon.
“Vitalité Health Network upholds the highest standards when it comes to patient confidentiality and therefore cannot comment on specific cases involving current or past patients,” read the statement.
Vitalité went on to say whenever an investigation is conducted, follow-ups are always carried out with the individuals concerned.
Hemsworth says the family is moving forward with a lawsuit for wrongful death and alleged medical malpractice at this time.
Kaytlyn Hemsworth is pictured. (Source: Hemsworth family)
Kaytlyn struggled with mental health issues most of her life and Hemsworth said she had been in the hospital’s psychiatric ward for a few months before she died.
“She had a few attempts and she was in and out of the psych unit over and over again,” she said.
Her five younger siblings are taking it hard, but Hemsworth’s parents are suffering the most.
“I think it was just hard to come to terms that she was gone. And it took on my dad a very, very big toll,” said Hemsworth.
The New Brunswick RCMP said on April 11, 2023 at approximately 4:30 p.m., police were notified of a sudden death.
RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Hans Ouellette said they investigated the circumstances surrounding the death with support from the province’s coroner’s office.
“Following the investigation, police have determined that criminality was not involved in the individual’s death,” said Ouellette.
Hemsworth, who lives in Ottawa, said her sister was creative and loved to draw, cook and dance with all of her heart.
“I do have regrets about not being there for her all the time, but definitely, we had a good sister relationship,” said Hemsworth.
And she misses her every day.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, here are some resources that are available.
Crisis Services Canada (1-833-456-4566 or text 45645), Centre for Suicide Prevention (1-833-456-4566) or Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868) offer ways of getting help if you, or someone you know, may be suffering from mental health issues.
If you need immediate assistance call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW Is there a cost to convenience? Canada approves new cancer immunotherapy treatment
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Canada's new dental program offering hope of free care to millions but many dentists aren't signed up
A new Canadian dental care program is offering the hope of free care to millions, but while 1.7 million people have signed up for the plan, only about 5,000 dentists have done the same.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
King Charles III returns to public duties with a trip to a cancer charity
King Charles III will return to public duties on Tuesday when he visits a cancer treatment charity, beginning his carefully managed comeback after the monarch’s own cancer diagnosis sidelined him for three months.
NDP says Ottawa's new grocery task force isn't living up to government promises
The federal government says the task force it created to monitor and investigate grocery retailers' practices has not conducted any probes and doesn't have a mandate to take enforcement action.
A group of Toronto tenants have been on a rent strike for a year and say there's no resolution in sight
Dozens of tenants in Toronto's Thorncliffe Park area have now been withholding their rent for one year, and it’s unclear when the dispute will end.
Archeologists search for remnants of Halifax's 250-year-old wall that surrounded the city
Archeologist Jonathan Fowler is using ground-penetrating radar to search for historic evidence of the massive wall that surrounded Halifax more than 250 years ago.
Kazakhstan arrests ex-interior minister in connection with unrest that left 238 dead
Authorities in Kazakhstan arrested a former interior minister on Tuesday, in connection with deadly police crackdown on unrest that gripped the country in 2022, Kazakh news media reported.