Winnipeg man calls for improvements to patient safety after 94-year-old mother is attacked in hospital
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A Winnipeg man whose 94-year-old mother was attacked by another patient at St. Boniface Hospital says hospitals need to re-evaluate How patients are assigned to shared rooms.
Maria Capizzi was removed from her private care home and admitted to hospital on 9 January when her health began to decline.
According to her son Tony Capizzi, she was initially placed in a room with another woman. However, the next day, he got a call from a nurse saying otherwise.
“‘I’m sorry to tell you… I’ve never seen anything like it, but your mother was attacked. The patient next to her’ – it was a man, I realized it was a man,” Capizzi recalled – ‘attempted to suffocate her with a towel.’
Hospital staff intervened and stopped the attack, Capizzi said.
After the incident, Maria Capizzi was taken into comfort care. Her alleged attacker was transferred to another ward.
Capizzi says he felt uncomfortable after learning from hospital staff that the man knew him from previous visits.
“One of the employees told me this guy is a repeat customer,” he said. “They told me this guy should go to jail or be put in a psychiatric ward because he’s always here.”
Maria Capizzi’s health continued to decline and she died the following week. His family says his death is not related to the incident.
Winnipeg police confirmed that a 49-year-old man charged with assault in connection with the incident has been released on a promise to appear in court. Police say the man is known to them, but have not released his name or details about the previous interaction.
Capizzi believes the assault charge does not reflect the seriousness of what happened.
“I think it’s attempted murder, to be honest,” he said. “If she hadn’t been screaming… and the nurse hadn’t come to see what was happening, I think she would have gone crazy.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said violence is something no patient should have to worry about when receiving care.
“To ensure everyone’s safety following this incident, health care teams worked together to develop appropriate care plans for both patients,” a WRHA spokesperson said in an email.
“When a patient exhibits violent, aggressive, or reactive behavior, site leadership can implement a documented safety and care plan to help prevent or reduce risks.”
The WRHA also confirmed that the incident was reported to the Protection for Persons in Care office and said hospital management is in contact with the family to provide support.
Capizzi hopes sharing her mother’s experience will lead to safer hospitals.
“When you go to a hospital, you go there with the mentality, I’ll get better… You (don’t) have to take care of your safety, (or) sleep with one eye open.”
A Winnipeg family is demanding improvements to patient safety after they say their 94-year-old mother was attacked in her hospital bed by another patient. Maria Capizzi’s son says patients should not have to worry about their safety while receiving care.
