Involuntary homicide of an 84-year-old patient: a niece grieved by the death of her father, then her uncle

Already distressed by the death of her father, the niece of an octogenarian did not even have time to go to her dying uncle’s bedside since he was allegedly “euthanized” by a former anesthesiologist from Laval.

• Also read: Trial for involuntary manslaughter: a former doctor “euthanized” an 84-year-old patient, pleads the Crown

• Also read: Involuntary homicide of an 84-year-old patient: he still had at least a few hours to live, according to his surgeon

“I just couldn’t believe it. I said to myself, let’s see, it’s unreal, it can’t be, we’re burying our brother the next day.”

This was the state of mind of Line Bissonnette when she learned that her uncle, Raymond Bissonnette, had taken his last breath, at the Cité-de-la-Santé Hospital, in Laval, on November 1, 2019.

She testified with aplomb Wednesday at the trial of Isabelle Desormeau, at the Saint-Jérôme courthouse, who is accused of involuntary homicide against the 84-year-old man.

The day before the tragedy, the patient first presented to the emergency room with stomach aches.

A doctor discovered necrosis on his small intestine in the operating room, confirming that his condition was serious.

He therefore called Mr. Bissonnette’s niece, and they agreed to close the abdominal wall and offer palliative care to ensure his “comfort”, as the victim wished.

No emergency

On the phone, the surgeon made him understand that his uncle has a few hours to two days to live.

She therefore considered that there was no “emergency” to go to a hospital center immediately.

However, it is the moments which followed this sad announcement which are at the heart of the trial of Isabelle Desormeau.

The latter allegedly administered midazolam, propofol and fentanyl to Raymond Bissonnette, before removing him from respiratory assistance. Gestures which had outraged his colleagues.

“I tell him that the patient is not breathing. She told me that it’s not serious, the patient will die,” said respiratory therapist Pamela Lemieux, who felt “very uncomfortable.”

By these acts, the accused precipitated the death of the elder and “euthanized” him, the prosecution believes.

Devastating call

Line Bissonnette was never able to get to her uncle’s bedside in time, as she had planned.

“My intention was to go there with her daughter,” who has a severe intellectual disability, she testified.

A nurse’s call to tell him that he had finally died ruined his plans.

“I think I’m dreaming, it’s like the straw that broke the camel’s back,” illustrated Line Bissonnette.

M^are Karine Dalphond and Alexis Marcotte Bélanger represent the ministry. Isabelle Desormeau is defended by M^are Nadine Touma and Stéphanie Lozeau.

The trial, presided over by judge Marc-André Dagenais, continues all day.