Disagreement at Winterstein inquest over ‘homicide’ vs. ‘natural’ death classification

A coroner’s jury heard a sharp disagreement today over whether an Indigenous woman’s death in a St. Catharines hospital waiting room should be classified as a homicide.

At the same time, the jury was told that evidence shows discrimination may have played a role in the young woman’s death.

Heather Winterstein was an Indigenous woman who was homeless and a drug user when she died at the age of 24.

She had sought help at the St. Catharines hospital emergency room, where Vivian Sim, a lawyer for the coroner’s inquest, said Winterstein was “a young woman in pain, asking for help, and being underprioritized for care by the people with the ability to save her life.”

Winterstein first went to the hospital with back pain on Dec. 9, 2021, but was sent away and told to take Tylenol. She returned the following day and was left sitting in a waiting room before she collapsed and died of toxic shock.

Sim told the inquest that Winterstein “suffered and struggled in plain sight,” noting that while other patients noticed her pain and tried to help, “that same level of concern was not demonstrated” by the health care professionals responsible for clinical care.

Sim stated that evidence shows “bias” and “discrimination” led to Winterstein being “ignored” by health professionals. Consequently, Winterstein’s family has called for her death to be classified as a “homicide,” arguing it was the result of the action or lack of action by health care staff.

However, Niagara police disagreed today, calling on the jury to make a finding of “natural” death.

Niagara Emergency Medical Services also said the death should be found to be by “natural causes,” with their lawyer adding there is “no evidence” the paramedic who accompanied Winterstein to the hospital “perceived Heather to be Indigenous.”

Niagara Health, which operates the hospital, also says evidence shows “none of the health care workers were aware of Winterstein’s indigeneity.” The organization maintains that Winterstein died a natural death and noted the hospital has made numerous changes since the incident.

As the inquest wrapped up, coroner Dr. David Eden told the jury their job is to determine the facts, including whether the death was a “homicide” or “natural.” He reminded jurors there is to be “no finding of legal responsibility, professional negligence or liability.”

The jury has also been asked to make a series of recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the future.

WATCH MORE: Family seeks homicide finding in death of Indigenous woman in St. Catharines hospital inquest