Media
The London Free Press
Friday, December 13, 2002, A3
By Joe Belanger
London Free Press Reporter
Patient advocate calls for inquest
He says one is needed to find out why a homeless fire victim was let out of hospital.
The Ontario advocate for psychiatric patients is calling for an inquest into the death of a homeless woman in a London fire, adding another voice to a growing chorus.
David Simpson, Program Manager for the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office in Toronto, called for an inquest into the death of Leslie Ann Trussler, a 38-year-old schizophrenic, in a letter yesterday.
"We understand why the family is so distraught, believing that the community treatment order would have supported Leslie Ann in her quest for wellness, recovery and reintegration into the community, only to be let down," he said.
Trussler, a University of Western Ontario graduate and mother of a five-year-old girl who lives with her grandparents in Sault Ste. Marie, died Sunday when the abandoned Wellington Street home where she lived burned. Careless smoking was blamed.
Trussler's parents, who are considering asking for an inquest, blame her death on a lifting of a six-month community treatment order in early September, a few weeks after it was imposed.
Released, Trussler headed to London where she has lived off and on for several years.
Simpson said an inquest could examine new legislation - Brian's Law, which gives more power to family members and health-care professionals to impose treatment on mentally ill patients.
"An inquest could examine issues related to the community treatment plan, the availability of community resources and supports, and the consequences of what happens when these supports are not available or simply fail," he said.
Mary Alberti, Executive Director of the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario, stopped short of calling for an inquest. Bust she said an inquest could provide useful insight into the workings of Brian's Law.
"Although I'm mot too familiar with (the Trussler) case, if she was truly on a community treatment order... I think an inquest into the death of this young woman would be a good idea - to look at the system and whether there are problems."
Regional Coroner Dr. Tom Wilson said Wednesday the death is "still under investigation."
Liberal health critic Lyn McLeod also urged the coroner to call an inquest.
An aide to Health Minister Tony Clement said yesterday the minister wouldn't comment until the coroner has completed his investigation.
Trussler's father, David, said this week he had thought the passing of Brian's Law, named after Ottawa sportscaster Brian Smith, who was killed in 1995 by a mentally ill man, would end years of frustration trying to help his daughter. The law gives mental health authorities more power to hold and treat a seriously mentally ill person.
It covers community treatment orders, which can require a patient take medication and undergo other treatment as a condition of living outside an institution.
Simpson said an inquest also could examine a host of other issues affecting psychiatric patients, including access to appropriate and timely care, the impact of bed closures, availability of safe, affordable housing, income and emergency assistance, and the need for community-based advocacy services.
"Let's not let the death of Leslie Ann Trussler be in vain," he said, "but instead use this as a catalyst to examine all the issues."
