Nurse was ‘shocked’ by Cynthia Blackjack’s deteriorating condition, inquest hears – CBC

Carmacks health centre staff initially determined Blackjack’s case was serious but not urgent, inquest hears

Jan 28, 2020

Former Carmacks health centre nurse Matt Lewis testified Monday he was “shocked” by the overnight deterioration of Cynthia Blackjack’s condition shortly before she died.

Blackjack, 29, died aboard a medevac flight bound for Whitehorse in 2013. A coroner’s inquest is probing the circumstances of her death, including whether systemic racism played a role.

Lewis told the jury Monday he treated Blackjack on Nov. 6, 2013. She arrived at the Carmacks health centre reporting serious abdominal pain. She was given morphine, an IV and an antacid.

Lewis said he considered her condition serious, but said she did not appear to need emergency care.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nurse-shocked-blackjack-condition-1.5442486