Nurse Charged in Connection with Death at Ontario Long-Term Care Facility

A 62-year-old woman, Michelle Biglow, has been charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm in connection with the death of an elderly man at a long-term care facility in Northern Ontario. The Ontario Provincial Police announced the charge in a statement. The woman's name matches that of a registered practical nurse who resigned from the College of Nurses of Ontario earlier this year.

The charge stems from the death of a 93-year-old man residing at a long-term care facility in Iroquois Falls. Police reported an incident on May 17, 2024, that caused the man "medical distress." He was subsequently taken to a local hospital, where he passed away on May 24. The only long-term care facility in Iroquois Falls is the 69-bed South Centennial Manor. A source indicated the case involved medication errors at South Centennial.

Following the incident, the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care conducted an inspection at South Centennial between June 4 and 6, 2024. The inspection report revealed that a registered staff member administered medications without following the facility's policies. As a result, a resident received the wrong medications, leading to a change in their health. A second staff member then administered an inappropriate medication in response.

The report, dated June 12, 2024, stated that both staff members admitted they failed to ensure the resident wouldn't receive the wrong medications. The report concluded that the failure to adhere to medication policies resulted in harm to a resident and put other residents at risk. The document also mentioned a staffer was involved in two separate medication incidents within a month.

The licensee of the long-term care facility, Anson General Hospital in Iroquois Falls, was ordered to ensure that registered staff administering medications were trained on the facility's medication management policies. The licensee was also required to audit medication administration three times a week for at least a month. A follow-up report indicated the facility had complied with the orders.

A funeral home notice identified the deceased as 93-year-old Roger Sauvé of Iroquois Falls, who died on May 24, 2024, at Anson General Hospital. He was a former paper mill employee and member of the Knights of Columbus. The source confirmed that Mr. Sauvé was the resident who died at South Centennial. The director at South Centennial Manor declined to comment. The chief executive officer and long-term care administrator of Anson General Hospital did not respond to requests for comment.