FORT FRANCES, Ont. - A former nurse at the La Verendrye Hospital in Fort Frances admitted to altering medication administration records to steal morphine in order to feed her own addiction, which resulted in the death of a patient in palliative care.
Lindsey Coyle appeared before Justice Pieter Joubert in a Fort Frances courtroom on Monday where she pleaded guilty to one count of criminal negligence causing death and one count of failing to comply with a release order.
The Ontario Provincial Police first charged Coyle with second-degree murder on Aug. 6, 2019 following an investigation into the suspicious death of 76-year-old Hermina Fletcher on Jan. 4, 2015 at the La Verendrye Hospital. Additional charges of criminal negligence causing death, theft, breach of trust, and uttering forged documents were also laid.
According to an agreed statement of facts read into the court record by the Crown, Fletcher was admitted to the La Verendrye Hospital on Dec. 20, 2014 and she was described as being critically ill.
Fletcher’s family physician noted her care was palliative and on Dec. 29, 2014, she was assigned to be given two to four milligrams of morphine intravenously.
On Jan. 1, 2015, a physician changed Fletcher’s medication administration report to two to five milligrams of morphine to be administered subcutaneously. On Jan. 2 she received two milligrams three separate times throughout the day and night.
Coyle, who was a registered practical nurse at La Verendrye Hospital, started her shift on Jan. 3, 2015 at 7:30 a.m. It was during this shift that she wrote over Fletcher’s medication administration report, changing the two to five milligrams of morphine to read five to 10 milligrams.
It was noted on Fletcher’s record that she had been administered seven 10 milligram doses of morphine between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Jan. 3 and Coyle was the nurse withdrawing the morphine on the drug record.
Another nurse at the hospital who started working that evening observed Fletcher to be alert and visiting with family. Fletcher was given two 10 milligram doses of morphine by the nurse at 9:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m.
Fletcher began to progressively lose consciousness throughout the night and died at approximately 6 a.m. on Jan. 4, 2015.
A report prepared by the regional coroner stated there was no evidence that Fletcher received 70 milligrams of morphine throughout the day on Jan. 3. The report went on to state that while her death could have been the result of natural causes, her illness appeared to be clearing up, and on the balance of probabilities, Fletcher’s death was due to acute morphine toxicity.
On Jan. 14, 2015, the Ontario Provincial Police were notified by the nursing executive at La Verendrye that 10 milligrams of morphine were missing. Following an audit of the delivery system, it was determined that more than 700 milligrams of morphine were missing from the hospital.
Staff were interviewed and it was determined Coyle was the nurse signing out the morphine.
During the interview, Coyle admitted to stealing the morphine for her own use, saying she started using the drug after she returned from maternity leave.
Coyle said she was embarrassed and ashamed but also admitted to using the drug while at work many times, describing herself as ‘high as a kite.’
Coyle was terminated from her job on Jan. 28, 2015 and she voluntarily surrendered her nursing licence on Jan. 13, 2016.
When she was charged in August 2019, Coyle admitted to her drug addiction, to stealing morphine and creating fictitious patients and changing records, whatever she needed to do in order to secure the morphine.
The criminal negligence causing death charge was related to Coyle fraudulently altering Fletcher’s medication administration record, which led to her receiving increased doses of morphine and ultimately resulting in her death.
The failing to comply with a release order relates to Coyle not residing at the residence listed on her release order between October 2020 and April 2021.
There was a finding of guilt by Justice Joubert on the charges. All remaining charges were marked withdrawn at the request of the Crown.
Surviving members of Hermina Fletcher's family, Melvin Fletcher Jr. and his daughter Melissa Fletcher, released a statement on Monday following the guilty pleas.
The statement reads that waiting for justice has been difficult for the family and there are concerns surrounding the sentence Coyle could receive.
"In light of what we heard today in court, we remain fearful that this conviction may not result in a sentence that reflects the gravity of what has happened. Not only would a light sentence be upsetting to our family and the suffering of our late mother and grandmother, but it would also disrespect all victims of elder abuse and all those who have been victimized or taken advantage of while undergoing medical treatment," the statement reads.
“Ms. Coyle was a licensed medical professional in a position of authority and public trust. She abused that authority and trust. She knew what she was doing. She knew what the serious or fatal harm to Hermina could be. This was not a mere error or oversight – it was a selfish and calculated attempt to take advantage of an elderly victim who was in medical distress."
The family also raised the fear that there could be other victims, as they have been approached by other members of the community who feel they or their family members may also have been targeted by Coyle.
“We will be submitting victim impact statements which we hope will assist the court in applying a just and severe sentence that accords with Ms. Coyle’s reprehensible actions,” the statement reads.
A pre-sentence report has been ordered. The matter has been adjourned to Oct. 25, 2022 to set a date for sentencing submissions.
A $3 million civil suit was filed by Fletcher’s family in April 2021 against Coyle and Riverside Health Care Facilities, which operates La Verendrye Hospital.
