Jury determines Heather Winterstein ‘died by non-natural causes’

A jury has determined that 24-year-old Heather Winterstein died by non-natural causes, finding her “manner of death to be accidental.”

The jury’s finding means they accepted that injury — delayed treatment — was part of the reason for Winterstein’s death.

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

The inquest into the death of the Indigenous woman began at the end of March, which took three weeks and involved dozens of witnesses.

Lawyers representing the family of Winterstein told CHCH News in an email that the jury found the 24-year-old’s “death was caused by septic shock due to sepsis, with delayed treatment.”

A primary concern at the inquest was anti-Indigenous racism and stigma towards people with substance use disorder in health care.

Throughout the inquest, the jury heard evidence from experts on how unconscious bias can lead to symptoms of patients being minimized, delayed care and serious conditions missed.

Lawyers for Winterstein’s family say “the jury’s 68 recommendations demonstrates their acceptance that anti-Indigenous racism and other biases were part of what led to Heather’s death.”

The family released statements to CHCH News Wednesday night saying in part, “I believe these recommendations will help prevent future needless deaths like Heather’s. We ask Niagara Health and Niagara EMS to begin implementing them immediately, because they will save lives. If this inquest spares even one family the loss we have suffered, it will have been worth it.”

The jury delivered their final verdict at 5:20 p.m. April 22.

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