In Winnipeg, a man is advocating for a reassessment of how hospitals pair patients in shared rooms after his 94-year-old mother was assaulted by another patient at St. Boniface Hospital. Maria Capizzi was admitted to the hospital on Jan. 9 from her personal care home due to declining health. Initially placed with another woman, Tony Capizzi, her son, received a call the next day informing him of the assault. The male patient next to Maria had tried to suffocate her with a towel, but hospital staff intervened to stop the attack. Subsequently, Maria was moved to comfort care, while the alleged attacker was relocated to another ward.
Tony Capizzi expressed concern upon learning from hospital staff that the assailant was a familiar face known for previous visits. Unfortunately, Maria’s health deteriorated, leading to her passing the following week, though her family states her demise was unrelated to the incident. The Winnipeg police disclosed that a 49-year-old man charged with assault in connection to the incident was released under a promise to appear in court. Capizzi believed the assault charge did not reflect the severity of the situation, deeming it as attempted murder.
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority emphasized that patient safety is paramount and outlined collaborative efforts to ensure a secure care environment following the incident. The incident was reported to the Protection for Persons in Care Office, and the hospital management reached out to the family for support. Tony Capizzi hopes that sharing his mother’s ordeal will prompt improvements for safer hospital settings, emphasizing the importance of not having to fear for one’s safety during medical care.
