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Warning: This story deals with topics such as suicide and the death of children.
Santé Québec has requested an independent investigation following the deaths of three minors, over a short period of time, who were under the care of the Batshaw Youth and Family Centres.
The regional health authority asked the Bureau de l’inspectrice nationale (BIN) to look into the causes, key issues, and potential gaps in the delivery of services to youth and their families, it said in a news release published Tuesday evening.
The BIN is an office that can be tasked by Santé Québec to inspect and investigate health-care settings and businesses for issues pertaining to public health.
Two teens and a four-year-old girl died within weeks of each other in March, leading to an investigation by Quebec’s coroner’s office.
“This process aims to obtain an objective and independent perspective on the situation,” reads Santé Québec’s news release.
Both teens, a girl, 16, and a boy, 17, died by suicide, while the young girl showed signs of malnutrition and bruising when she died, according to the Montreal Gazette, who first reported on two of the deaths last week.
The 16-year-old girl, who had been in care for several years, died on March 3 at Batshaw’s Prévost campus in the Laurentians, as reported by La Presse on March 25.
The Batshaw Youth and Family Centres fall under the jurisdiction of Santé Québec Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal (formerly known as the CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal).
“Throughout the process, the BIN will ensure, where necessary, that the institution puts safety nets in place for users,” said Santé Québec.
It says the BIN may issue recommendations or “trigger all other interventions deemed appropriate.”
Santé Québec knew shortly after deaths, executive says
In an interview with CBC’s Let’s Go, Amine Saadi — associate executive director of social services and infrastructures with Santé Québec Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal–Universitaire — said it is important to receive a “third opinion” through a BIN investigation on top of the coroner and internal investigations.
Saadi said Santé Québec became aware of the deaths a couple of days after they occurred.
“Absolutely, it’s tragic. Absolutely, everybody is in shock, including our health workers, and we have absolutely the responsibility to improve our situation,” he said.
LISTEN | Santé Québec executive, family lawyer react to calls for independent review:
Let’s Go16:38Santé Québec wants an independent investigation into Batshaw deaths
Santé Québec is calling on an independent investigation into recent deaths at Batshaw. Three minors died within a month. We’ll hear from Amine Saadi, Associate Executive Director of Social Services and Infrastructures with Santé Québec Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal – Universitaire. That’s the health authority that manages Batshaw Youth and Family Centres. We’ll also hear from Valérie Assouline, a lawyer specializing in family and youth law.
Lionel Carmant, Quebec’s minister responsible for social services, shared his condolences in a statement on Wednesday, noting that the government is aware Batshaw has been facing significant staffing challenges for years.
“I have been saying it and repeating it for a long time: we are currently instigating a genuine culture shift in youth protection,” he said.
Valérie Assouline, a lawyer specializing in family and youth law, says it is “outrageous” that it took months for Santé Québec to call for an independent review.
She said trusteeship should be seriously considered given the systemic issues highlighted by the three deaths.
“Obviously, there is a problem in governance… there is a problem in caseload management.” Assouline said.
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