Medication played a role in woman’s death, coroner says
Medication played a role in woman’s death, coroner saysMedication played a role in woman’s death, coroner says
A Whitehorse woman who fell down a set of stairs in her home in October 2014 and died as a result of head injuries had “toxic to lethal-ranging” medications in her blood.
That’s the conclusion of the Yukon’s chief coroner.
In a judgment of inquiry dated Oct. 22 but only recently made publicly available, Kirsten Macdonald noted a number of medications were found in Aileen Bedard’s blood.
“Ms. Bedard fell down the stairs in her home and sustained blunt force head trauma which caused her death,” Macdonald wrote.
The 52-year-old woman was found dead on Oct. 30, 2014.
The coroner ruled the death had occurred the day before.
Bedard had missed a health appointment, which prompted the RCMP to check on her.
She was found lying on her back at the bottom of the stairs at her home.
Autopsy results showed the woman had suffered head trauma.
“There were signs of a concussive-type brain injury noted,” Macdonald wrote.
Blood analysis revealed Bedard had high levels of two sedative medications in her system.
“Blood levels of the prescribed medication zopiclone were in a range associated with toxic and lethal effects,” Macdonald wrote.
“The blood levels of prescribed medication methotrimeprazine were also in a range associated with toxic effects.”
On top of that, a toxicology report found eight other substances in her blood.
“Toxicology analysis also detected a combination of prescribed medication which puts Ms. Bedard at risk for oversedation,” Macdonald wrote.
“Oversedation can cause drowsiness, dizziness and sleepiness.”
The autopsy was performed at Vancouver General Hospital on Nov. 3, 2014.
While Bedard had a pneumonia at the time of her death, the chief coroner ruled it was unlikely it could have caused a sudden collapse.
“There were signs of evolving pneumonia, which the pathologist suggested may have evolved after the fall and before death,” she wrote.
Comments (1)
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June Jackson on Nov 30, 2015 at 3:55 pm
I was sorry to read this. I don't need methotrimeprazine, often prescribed for mental disorders, but I do need the occasional sleeping pill. Now the Doctors will close the door as it were and some of these medicines will be very hard to get. There will likely be a big stink over how did she get those drugs?
But, people know what they are doing. Some will just get street drugs or buy them on the internet, or see Doctors when they go outside. But, one way or another, if someone wants drugs, they'll find a way to get them.
I have a concern when one person passes like this, that all the people who really need a pain killer, or an anti anxiety drug, won't be able to get them.
I am sorry this happened to Aileen.. and I hope she is finally resting in peace..