Friday, March 12, 2010

Canadian TV stations want to film court case about disabled man who died in hospital ER

From the Winnipeg Free Press in Canada:

WINNIPEG — TV news stations want their cameras in the courtroom for the upcoming inquest into the death of a double-amputee who died after waiting for help for 34 hours in a Winnipeg hospital's emergency room.

The hearing into Brian Sinclair's death is set to begin Friday.

Global, CBC, CTV and APTN are all seeking permission from the judge to have their cameras record the proceedings for news broadcasts and live webcast streaming.

The government of Manitoba, Manitoba Nurses Union, and Winnipeg Regional Health Authority oppose the move.

The family of Brian Sinclair (pictured) support the motion.

Sinclair died in Sept. 2008 after waiting 34 hours in the emergency room of the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg without receiving care.

The homeless aboriginal man was found dead in his wheelchair of a bladder infection that could have been treated with a catheter change and antibiotics.