A jury at a Coroner’s Inquest has made five recommendations, after a patient from Riverview Hospital was found dead outside in the cold.
Patricia Donna Reed was reported missing in February 2011. She was a patient involuntarily committed at Riverview.
Staff did not find the 59-year-old until five days later, her body cold in a ditch not far away.
A Coroner has ruled her death accidental because of exposure.
The jury has made recommendations to the Provincial Health authorities and the Ministry of Health.
They include making sure a coordinated response is in place for patients found to be on ‘unexcused absences,’ as well as reviewing how certain patients sign out.
The jury also suggested the health authorities consider adopting a new code yellow, used for missing patients.
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