Over a dozen nurses have been fired from a children’s hospital in Washington following the suicide death of a 12-year-old girl, per the New York Post.
Sarah Niyimbona died on April 13 after leaving her room at Providence Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Spokane, Washington and jumping from the fourth floor of a nearby parking garage. She was previously admitted to the hospital for suicide attempts in 2024.
Niyimbona’s family filed a lawsuit accusing the hospital of removing critical safety measures, including a 24/7 sitter, video monitoring, and a door alarm, despite her documented history of self-harm.
“I ask what happened,” Niyimbona’s mother, Nasra Gertrude, said. “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.”
Hospital officials said 15 nurses were fired and one was disciplined following Niyimbona’s death. According to Providence, staffers accessed Niyimbona’s medical records without being directly involved in her care, violating HIPAA, the federal health privacy law. However, the Washington State Nurses Association, which is representing the fired staffers, claimed their termination was retaliatory. The union alleges that the nurses were targeted because they spoke to the media after Sarah’s death.
In a statement, Providence spokesperson Jen York said the hospital takes patient privacy seriously.
“When we identify conduct that violates our privacy policies, we review the situation and take appropriate action, including termination of employment, where warranted.”
A Department of Health investigation into the hospital’s handling of Sarah’s care is ongoing.
Niyimbona’s 19-year-old sister, Asha Joseph, said the family is still searching for answers.
“We’re confused how this could happen,” she said. “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.”
The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.
About Post Author
