Brian Sinclair (Winnipeg)

Brian Sinclair was a 45-year-old Aboriginal homeless man who was wheel chair bound. Sinclair died after waiting over 34 hours in a Winnipeg emergency room. According to the Chief Medical Examiner, Brian Sinclair had a catheter for a bladder problem and his catheter was blocked so he hadn't been able to urinate for 24 hours. He died from a bladder infection.

A review of security tapes from the Winnipeg hospital ER, reveal that Sinclair approached the desk when he first arrived. The tapes show he was dropped off and an unidentified male wheeled him to the desk. An employee at the desk spoke to Mr. Sinclair. This is contrary to the reports from hospital staff who claimed, for months, that they didn't know Mr. Sinclair was waiting to see a doctor.

According to the Winnipeg Free Press, Brian Sinclair sat vomiting in the ER as security guards tried to alert triage staff to his urgent need for care. The security staff tried many times to get the attention of triage, to no avail.

The 45-year-old was found dead by a horrified member of the public in the hospital's waiting room September 21, 2008.

There will be an inquest into the death, however, Manitoba Premier Gary Doer will not fire Health Minister Theresa Oswald.

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