A retired nurse who testified Thursday at the coroner’s inquest into the death of Serena Perry in Saint John spoke of shock and sadness.
Marilyn Isaac was a nurse at the Saint John Regional Hospital Psychiatric Unit at the time of Perry’s death.
On Thursday she described Serena as sweet, innocent and trusting.
When word reached the unit that she was dead, Isaac said, “We were absolutely shocked. We were all in shock. It was a horrendous night I will never forget.”
To date, all of the witnesses have testified that Serena never displayed suicidal tendencies.
"It's important to remember that these are medical professionals,” said family lawyer John Gillis. “This is their job to determine this. So it's important for everyone to understand that this young lady was not suicidal."
Another hospital employee named Deloris Ferris told the inquest that Serena was, “a real sweet girl. She loved people, wanted to be loved, and she loved her mom.”
Serena’s mom Rose Perry broke down in court Thursday upon hearing Ferris’s testimony.
Witnesses testified that there have been security changes in the psychiatric unit since Serena’s death. The doors to the unit are now permanently locked, and there are much more restrictive rules for people entering and leaving the unit, including patients who are leaving for a smoke break.
Isaac says security shouldn’t be so tight as to deny mental health patients freedom of movement in the hospital.
“To keep people locked up for 24 hours a day would be inhumane,” she told the jury.
Isaac said undue restriction on patients could lead to increased tension and altercations on the unit.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Mike Cameron
