A Laval resident who fought tooth and nail for recognition of the abuse his 98-year-old mother suffered at CHSLD before she died finally won $3,400 in small claims court.
“They did everything to get an out-of-court settlement. I refused. I’m not here to make money. I’m here to find out if it makes sense that people are being mistreated in CHSLDs. That’s my battle,” said Louise Goddard, 62, adamant about Judge Johan Gagnon’s latest decision. says
Four years ago, when the epidemic was threatening Quebec, his mother, Madeleine Robichaud, was mistreated at the CHSLD de Sainte-Dorothée in Laval. A few months later, the location’s practices during the first wave of COVID-19 came under investigation by the Ministry of Health.
Photo by PIERRE-PAUL POULIN
Origin unknown
Mme Robichaud had been living there since 2016. He struggled to walk alone and suffered from Parkinson’s, scoliosis and kyphosis (spinal deformity). His daughter, who visited him daily, said he had weak ankles and weighed no more than 60 pounds.
On the morning of January 12, 2020, Mme Goddard got the call: his mother had an unknown injury to her arm.
“She had no injuries when I left [la veille]», says the daughter of the deceased.
Although the General CHSLD and CISSS de Laval denied the existence of a fault and considered the Nanogenarian collision, the court did not accept these explanations.
“This is possible given the difficulties in moving Mme Robichaud said the beneficiary’s helpers had to pull her by the arms or lift her like the day before, and in doing so, she injured her right forearm,” the ruling read.
Too much power
Unfortunately, Mme Robichaud died ten days later. According to the court, he did not die as a result of the events, but still suffered significant consequences.
Madeleine Robichaud, shortly before death.
Photo courtesy of Louise Goddard
“The photographs filed in evidence are very eloquent. There is no doubt in the court’s mind that Mme Robichaud was the victim,” Judge Gagnon said, adding that he was handled with “excessive force.”
“She was definitely scared” and experienced anxiety, noting that another technique should have been introduced earlier.
The magistrate concluded that this care did not meet the standard of care imposed by law and was inconsistent with CHSLD’s mission.
Insufficient evidence
Also, Mme Goddard, a retired CNESST inspector, prepared the file and tried to prove that her mother had suffered from dehydration and anemia in the days before her death. However, the clinical evidence was considered insufficient.
She and her brother sought $15,000 in damages. The court awarded them $3,398 plus interest.
Click to read the judgment Here.
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