Heartwrenching testimony from the older sister of 22-year-old Serena Perry at the inquest into her death at the Saint John Regional Hospital more than three years ago.
Tasha King describes her sister as innocent, trusting, someone who wanted to be independent, and that Serena never believed she had an illness.
King telling the jury Serena came to her house the day of her death on February 14, 2012 and seemed good and happy to be home. She says that she found out that her little sister had died via a text message from a friend who works at the hospital. She says Serena could have never taken her own life because she was religious and believed that was a mortal sin.
Horizon Health making eight recommendations for the jury to consider including moving the psychiatric unit to the first floor, closer to the Emergency Department, having the nursing station at the entrance to the unit, advocating for community treatment orders in New Brunswick, offering a program to help mental health patients quit smoking, and enhancing the patient information system.
King speaking in favour of getting community treatment orders in place in this province. She believes they would have helped Serena, saying with them “I know she’d still be here.”
The inquest continues tomorrow.
