Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
WHEREAS on Wednesday, November 4, 2009, Mr. Allisdair “Azzie” Leishman was brought by ambulance to the emergency department at Stanton Territorial Hospital suffering from hypothermia and experiencing a psychiatric episode;
AND WHEREAS while under the care and attention of Stanton Territorial Hospital, Mr. Leishman exited
the emergency room and made his way to the kitchen, where he took a knife and inflicted serious injury to himself by stabbing himself in the chest twice;
AND WHEREAS Mr. Leishman remains in extended care at Stanton Hospital to this day;
AND WHEREAS this incident raises questions about how such an incident could occur within Stanton Territorial Hospital, and about the overall safety and security of patients and staff within the hospital;
AND WHEREAS Stanton Territorial Hospital conducted a confidential internal quality management review, or mortality and morbidity review of this incident which contained no recommendations to improve the system or ensure that no similar incident would be allowed to happen;
AND WHEREAS the family of Mr. Leishman have been requesting a comprehensive external investigation which would explain how a patient of Stanton Territorial Hospital could inflict such personal harm while under their care and make binding recommendations which would ensure that a similar incident could not occur;
AND WHEREAS the Minister of Health and Social Services and Stanton Territorial Health Authority continue to deny all requests for an external investigation into this incident;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommends that the Minister of Health immediately order an independent, external investigation covering all aspects of the Leishman incident, with recommendations, as necessary, to improve safety and security for all patients and staff and improve the overall quality of care for all patients receiving care within the Stanton Territorial Hospital.