Latest news with #SarahNiyimbona
Sky News AU
11-08-2025
- Health
- Sky News AU
Washington hospital fires fifteen nurses after 12-year-old patient's suicide
More than a dozen nurses have been sacked and another disciplined at a Washington state children's hospital after a 12-year-old patient took her own life at the facility. Sarah Niyimbona, a compassionate, 'outspoken' middle schooler, died April 13 after slipping out of her room at Providence Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Spokane and jumping from the fourth floor of a parking garage, according to a report. Niyimbona had been admitted to the emergency room multiple times in 2024 for suicide attempts, The Spokesman-Review said. The hospital allegedly removed key safety measures despite her history of self-harm — including a round-the-clock sitter, a video monitor and a door alarm — and failed to properly supervise her the night she died, Investigate West reported, citing a lawsuit filed by the family. 'I ask what happened. How come she left the room without anybody seeing her? How come she walked all the way to the elevator without anybody seeing her?' her mother, Nasra Gertrude, told the outlet. 'They haven't given me any answer at all. I trusted this hospital to take care of my daughter.' Fifteen nurses have since been fired, and another disciplined, amid questions over how Niyimbona was able to leave her room undetected, according to the Spokesman-Review. Hospital brass claim the nurses improperly accessed Niyimbona's medical records without being directly involved in her care, a potential violation of the federal privacy law HIPAA. The Washington State Nurses Association, which represents the staffers, claims the firings were 'retaliation' against nurses who spoke to the media after Niyimbona's death. The union said the nurses have filed a grievance, a process that 'could take a long time' to resolve. Providence spokesperson Jen York told the Spokesman-Review the terminations were about protecting patient privacy, saying the hospital reviews conduct and takes 'appropriate action, including termination of employment, where warranted.' A state Department of Health investigation into Niyimbona's death is ongoing. In a statement to The Post, Providence said it launched an internal investigation after Niyimbona's death and implemented new protocols, including suicide risk screening for all patients and procedures for locating missing patients. Niyimbona was remembered on a GoFundMe page as a 'shining light' who 'touched the hearts of everyone she met.' 'We're confused how this could happen. We also want to know why there wasn't anyone there at the moment, why there was nobody watching her and how she was able to leave,' her 19-year-old sister, Asha Joseph, told PBS. The WSNA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. If you or anyone you know needs help: Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800 Lifeline – 13 11 14 Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 Originally published as Washington hospital fires fifteen nurses after 12-year-old patient's suicide
News18
10-08-2025
- Health
- News18
Washington Hospital Sacks 15 Nurses After 12-Year-Old Patient Dies By Suicide
Last Updated: A 12-year-old girl allegedly died by suicide at Providence Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Washington on April 13. Following the alleged suicide of a 12-year-old patient at a hospital in Washington, over a dozen nurses have been sacked at the facility, according to a report in New York Post. On April 13, Sarah Niyimbona, a middle schooler, died after slipping out of her room at Providence Sacred Heart Children's Hospital and jumping from the fourth floor of a parking garage, the report suggests. The teen had been admitted to the emergency room multiple times in 2024 for suicide attempts, The Spokesman-Review newspaper mentioned. Despite knowing her tendency for harming herself, the health care facility allegedly removed key safety measures, including a round-the-clock sitter, a video monitor and a door alarm, and failed to properly supervise her the night she killed herself, Investigate West reported, citing a lawsuit filed by the family. While speaking to Investigate West, Sarah's mother Nasra Gertrude said, 'I ask what happened. How come she left the room without anybody seeing her? How come she walked all the way to the elevator without anybody seeing her?" 'They haven't given me any answer at all. I trusted this hospital to take care of my daughter," she added. Meanwhile, the Hospital brass claimed the nurses improperly accessed Niyimbona's medical records without being directly involved in her care, a potential violation of the federal privacy law HIPAA, the New York Post mentioned. Meanwhile, Washington State Nurses Association, that represents the staffers, claims the sacking were 'retaliation" against nurses who addressed media after teenager's death. The union said the nurses have filed a grievance, a process that 'could take a long time" to resolve. While speaking to Spokesman-Review, the hospital's spokesperson Jen York state the terminations were about protecting patient privacy, saying the hospital reviews conduct and takes 'appropriate action, including termination of employment, where warranted." A state Department of Health investigation into Niyimbona's death is underway. view comments First Published: August 10, 2025, 17:48 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
International Business Times
10-08-2025
- Health
- International Business Times
Who Was Sarah Niyimbona? Kids Hospital in Washington Fires 15 Nurses After 12-Year-Old Patient Commits Suicide by Jumping from Fourth Floor
Over a dozen nurses were fired and another disciplined at a children's hospital in Washington state after a 12-year-old patient took her own life the facility. Sarah Niyimbona, a kind-hearted and "outspoken" middle schooler, died on April 13 after leaving her room at Providence Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Spokane and jumping from the fourth floor of a parking garage, according to the report. Niyimbona had been admitted to the emergency room several times in 2024 due to previous suicide attempts, according to The Spokesman-Review. The hospital removed crucial safety precautions despite her known history of self-harm — such as 24-hour supervision, a video monitoring system, and a door alarm — and did not properly monitor her on the night she died, Investigate West reported, citing a lawsuit filed by the family. Hospital's Negligence Sarah Niyimbona X "I ask what happened. How come she left the room without anybody seeing her? How come she walked all the way to the elevator without anybody seeing her?" her mother, Nasra Gertrude, told the outlet. "They haven't given me any answer at all. I trusted this hospital to take care of my daughter." Fifteen nurses have since been fired and another reprimanded as investigators question how Niyimbona managed to leave her room without being noticed, The Spokesman-Review reported. Hospital officials allege the nurses in question accessed Niyimbona's medical records without being part of her care team, potentially breaching the federal privacy law HIPAA. The Washington State Nurses Association, which represents the employees, argues that the firings were an act of "retaliation" against nurses who spoke publicly following Niyimbona's death. According to the union, the nurses have filed a grievance, a process that "may take considerable time" to settle. Blame Game On Sarah Niyimbona Facebook Providence spokesperson Jen York told the Spokesman-Review that the dismissals were focused on safeguarding patient privacy, explaining that the hospital reviews staff conduct and takes "appropriate action, including termination of employment, were wanted." The Washington State Department of Health is still investigating Niyimbona's death. Providence told The New York Post that it began an internal review following the incident and has since introduced new measures, such as suicide risk assessments for every patient and protocols for finding missing patients. A GoFundMe tribute described Niyimbona as a "bright light" who "left a lasting impact on everyone she encountered." "We're confused how this could happen. We also want to know why there wasn't anyone there at the moment, why there was nobody watching her and how she was able to leave," her 19-year-old sister, Asha Joseph, told PBS.
Daily Mail
10-08-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
'Why was nobody watching her? 15 nurses fired as family ask how death-plunge girl left room undetected
Fifteen nurses have been fired after a suicidal 12-year-old girl plunged to her death after being left alone in her hospital room. Sarah Niyimbona died on April 13 after leaving her room at a children's hospital in Spokane, Washington, and jumping from the fourth floor of its parking garage. Now 15 staffers have been dismissed amid questions over how the girl - who had been admitted several times last year for attempting to kill herself - was allowed to leave her room undetected. Administrators at Providence Sacred Heart Children's Hospital said the dismissals came after the nurses improperly accessed Niyimbona's private medical files following her death. The nurses were accused of accessing the records for no legitimate medical purposes, the Spokesman-Review reported. 'Providence takes violations of our code of conduct and federal privacy laws that govern private health information very seriously,' hospital spokesperson Jen York told the outlet. 'We review employee conduct and take appropriate action, including termination of employment, where warranted. Patient privacy is one of our top priorities.' Bobbi Nodell, a spokesperson for the Washington State Nurse Association union, said the violations could have been as simple as 'hovering' over the girl's chart from 'concerned nurses who worked with that patient.' The girl's mother, Nasra Gertrude, recalled rushing to the hospital after her daughter jumped from the garage. 'I ask what happened,' she told Investigate West. 'How come she left the room without anybody seeing her? How come she walked all the way to the elevator without anybody seeing her? 'They haven't given me any answer at all. I trusted this hospital to take care of my daughter. 'My heart got a little peace. At least I can go to work without receiving a 911 call that Sarah had attempted or was taken to the hospital. At least I can sleep. 'At least I don't have to worry about Sarah much because I know she's in safe hands. I trusted this hospital.' Gertrude said that her daughter had been a happy child, but began to experience bullying in middle school and was suspended several times for fighting. The young girl's sister, Asha Joseph, told PBS: 'We're confused how this could happen. We also want to know why there wasn't anyone there at the moment, why there was nobody watching her and how she was able to leave. 'We don't really know anything. We don't have any of the answers.' A GoFundMe account launched by the girl's her family states: 'It's tragic that her potential was cut short due to lack of care. An act of negligence led to her passing and we're left with so many questions.' It added that Niyimbona was a 'shining light, a bright angel who lit up our lives with her presence.' 'Sarah was intelligent, independent and outspoken, with a unique perspective on life that was truly magical,' her sister, Joseph, added. 'Her selflessness and compassion touched the hearts of everyone she met, from family and friends to peers and teachers. 'It's heartbreaking that the one place that was supposed to keep her safe failed to do so.' The hospital said in a statement to the Spokesman-Review: 'We are heartbroken about the tragedy that occurred at Sacred Heart Medical Center. Safe, compassionate care is always our top priority. 'We believe that Sacred Heart Medical Center provides compassionate and thoughtful care to our patients in alignment with our mission and values. We extend our deepest sympathy to the patient's loved ones.' Niyimbona's family filed a lawsuit against the hospital over accusations of neglect and medical malpractice. Preventive and safety measures to help protect and monitor the girl were reportedly removed from her room before her death, including round-the-clock video and a health care worker, or 'sitter,' assigned to her room, Investigate West reported. There was also an alarm on her door to notify hospital staff if she opened her hospital room door. According to the lawsuit reviewed by the outlet, the hospital 'failed to properly utilize and monitor alarms in Sarah's room allowing her to escape.' 'I feel like they neglect my daughter and they neglect me. I feel like they were tired [of] seeing Sarah there, so they didn't care about looking after her all the time,' Gertrude told the Spokesman-Review. The nurses are fighting their terminations over looking at Niyimbona's medical records, claiming the firings happened only after they spoke with media following the girl's death. 'The union was contacted by these nurses and has field grievances over the terminations and disciplinary actions, arguing that any information accessed pertained directly to the nurses' duties responding to this crisis,' Washington State Nurse Association Director David Keepnews said in a statement to the Spokesman-Review. A hospital-wide email on the night of Niyimbona's death told staff to refrain from posting about the incident or making any comments on social media, and many staff members said they felt pressured to stay quiet, according to Cascade PBS. The nurses had reportedly expressed concern to hospital management for the young girl's safety but had been ignored. 'That's where this frustration and feeling of helplessness is really coming from,' one of Niyimbona's nurses told the outlet. 'We did try to speak up. We did try to say, "This isn't safe. We cannot take away the security because she's going to hurt herself."' A former nurse of the children's psychiatric unit, Kaili Timperley, added to the outlet: 'We said this is what was going to happen. We said their plan was not an adequate plan. 'You can't just put these kids in a medical room and expect everything to be okay. It's why we tried to fight against it and get the word out.' Niyimbona had been moved to the hospital's general pediatrics unit from the ER, where two rooms had been converted into new psychiatric beds. The rooms reportedly lacked proper safety measures that the shuttered unit had, including locked doors that make it harder for patients to leave without alerting staff.
New York Post
09-08-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Washington kids hospital fires fifteen nurses after 12-year-old patient's suicide
More than a dozen nurses have been sacked and another disciplined at a Washington state children's hospital after a 12-year-old patient took her own life at the facility. Sarah Niyimbona, a compassionate, 'outspoken' middle schooler, died April 13 after slipping out of her room at Providence Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in Spokane and jumping from the fourth floor of a parking garage, according to a report. Niyimbona had been admitted to the emergency room multiple times in 2024 for suicide attempts, The Spokesman-Review said. 3 Sarah Niyimbona, 12, had been to the emergency room several times in 2024 for suicide attempts before her death in April. KREM2 The hospital allegedly removed key safety measures despite her history of self-harm — including a round-the-clock sitter, a video monitor and a door alarm — and failed to properly supervise her the night she died, Investigate West reported, citing a lawsuit filed by the family. 'I ask what happened. How come she left the room without anybody seeing her? How come she walked all the way to the elevator without anybody seeing her?' her mother, Nasra Gertrude, told the outlet. 'They haven't given me any answer at all. I trusted this hospital to take care of my daughter.' Fifteen nurses have since been fired, and another disciplined, amid questions over how Niyimbona was able to leave her room undetected, according to the Spokesman-Review. Hospital brass claim the nurses improperly accessed Niyimbona's medical records without being directly involved in her care, a potential violation of the federal privacy law HIPAA. 3 Providence Sacred Heart Children's Hospital says 15 nurses were fired for improperly accessing Niyimbona's medical records. KREM2 The Washington State Nurses Association, which represents the staffers, claims the firings were 'retaliation' against nurses who spoke to the media after Niyimbona's death. The union said the nurses have filed a grievance, a process that 'could take a long time' to resolve. Providence spokesperson Jen York told the Spokesman-Review the terminations were about protecting patient privacy, saying the hospital reviews conduct and takes 'appropriate action, including termination of employment, where warranted.' A state Department of Health investigation into Niyimbona's death is ongoing. 3 The Washington State Nurses Association argues the firings targeted staff who spoke to the media after Niyimbona's death. In a statement to The Post, Providence said it launched an internal investigation after Niyimbona's death and implemented new protocols, including suicide risk screening for all patients and procedures for locating missing patients. Niyimbona was remembered on a GoFundMe page as a 'shining light' who 'touched the hearts of everyone she met.' 'We're confused how this could happen. We also want to know why there wasn't anyone there at the moment, why there was nobody watching her and how she was able to leave,' her 19-year-old sister, Asha Joseph, told PBS. The WSNA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
