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<\/p>\nAn 85-year-old died because of her medical conditions, not neglect or abuse at a Winnipeg long-term care home, the facility\u2019s current and former operators say in response to a wrongful death suit launched by the woman\u2019s daughter.<\/p>\n
Cari Goncalves filed her claim in the Court of King\u2019s Bench in March on behalf of her mother Olga Ozubko\u2019s estate, naming Revera and Extendicare, as well as a numbered Ontario company that owns the property where Poseidon Care Centre is situated, as defendants.<\/p>\n
Revera operated the home until August 2023, when Extendicare took over.<\/p>\n
Ozubko died in hospital on Sept. 15, 2024, following a medical emergency days earlier at the care home, where she had lived since August 2022.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit alleges her death was the result of improper care she received at the facility, which exacerbated her existing medical issues.<\/p>\n
In a statement of defence filed late last month, the care home defendants argue Poseidon staff gave her reasonable care and deny allegations of negligence or abuse.<\/p>\n
The defendants have asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe defendants say that Olga suffered from many serious pre-existing conditions commensurate with her age and health, and deny that any act or omission by the defendants caused the death and the damages claimed,\u201d reads the defence filing.<\/p>\n
Ozubko had several medical conditions, including kidney disease, for which she was being treated by a specialist.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit alleges Poseidon staff failed to provide Ozubko with appropriate care, medication and pain relief, which the care home defendants have denied.<\/p>\n
Ozubko suffered injuries, including bed sores, while residing at the home that were either untreated or inadequately treated, the lawsuit claims.<\/p>\n
The care home defendants claim she was given appropriate care, medication and pain relief, or it was offered to her, which she occasionally refused.<\/p>\n
On Sept. 5, 2024, Ozubko began to develop breathing issues and staff contacted Goncalves, who advised them to call her mother\u2019s kidney specialist and to increase dosages of an unspecified medication in the meantime, Goncalves\u2019s lawsuit alleges.<\/p>\n
Despite her instructions, the court claim alleges, Poseidon staff gave Ozubko only one increased dose and failed or neglected to consult her kidney specialist about the medical emergency.<\/p>\n
The care home defendants allege staff assessed her on Sept. 5 and found she was not in respiratory distress, while assessments on Sept. 6 and 7 similarly found her to be breathing well. She was given treatments for skin issues, the statement of defence says.<\/p>\n
Staff then found her to have breathing issues on Sept. 8, called a doctor to increase the dose in the medication and had her sent to hospital that evening, the defendants argue.<\/p>\n
Ozubko died on Sept. 15, 2024 of complications related to multiple infections that had spread to her bones, Goncalves\u2019s lawsuit says.<\/p>\n
Goncalves\u2019s lawsuit also says she filed a complaint with Manitoba\u2019s Protection of Persons in Care Office, which said in a November 2025 letter that Ozubko had been \u201csubject to neglect and abuse while a resident at the facility.\u201d<\/p>\n
But the care home defendants deny the PPCO made that finding.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe defendants say that the PPCO office investigated neglect, not abuse, the investigation was not complete, the conclusion was in error, and not determinative,\u201d the defence filing claims.<\/p>\n
A judge has not yet heard the lawsuit.<\/p>\n
erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n
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Erik Pindera Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020.\u00a0 Read more about Erik<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Erik produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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