Policy not followed night Breanna Kannick died: corrections worker

Breanna Kannick's mother says policies must change after a corrections worker admitted to an inquest she didn't do her job the night before Kannick died at White Birch Remand Centre.

Kannick, 21, died while on remand in August 2015. The coroner's inquest into her death continued in Regina Wednesday. 

"I'm emotionally exhausted, I'm drained, I'm hurt and disgusted by the way they treated my baby. I can't do nothing about it but sit here and, like, she's got no voice anymore. I have to be her voice," said Breanna's mother Sherri Kannick, holding back tears outside the room at the east Regina Holiday Inn where the inquest is taking place.

Keely Brown, a corrections worker on night shifts in the days before Breanna died, testified Wednesday.

The jury heard that provincial policy says all staff are responsible to bring it to the attention of a health care professional if someone appears to be in medical distress, whether or not they complain.

Brown was asked if she wasn't doing her job the night before Breanna died if she didn't follow that policy.

"If that's the policy, then yes," Brown said.

Brown testified that Breanna told her she wasn't feeling well, but there were no other details indicating she was in medical distress. 

The statement prompted Sherri, who had been visibly upset during the proceedings, to leave the room.

Sherri is suing the province and 11 people working at the White Birch facility at the time of her daughter's death.

No "red flags"

Brown was on duty for the overnight shift on Aug. 18 and 19. Breanna died the morning of Aug. 20.

Inmates are required to stand outside their cell for a five minute cell check on a nightly basis at 10 p.m.

Brown testified that on Aug.19, Breanna did not want to get out of bed. At some point during the five-minute check Breanna asked to lay back down.

Corrections worker Angela Leinen also testified Wednesday. She said she removed two bags of vomit from Breanna's room the night before she died.

Breanna is believed to have been suffering from opioid withdrawal.

Both workers said Breanna's symptoms were typical of someone going through withdrawal. They said they didn't notice any red flags.

Leinen said she noticed Breanna was tired, but staff told her Breanna was eating and drinking — something out of the ordinary for someone going through withdrawals. Breanna was also still walking and communicating, which led Leinen to believe Breanna was fine.

Leinen described Breanna as "walking bones," despite the nurse telling her Breanna's initial health assessment indicated "she was as healthy as an athlete."

Both witnesses noticed the foul vomit smell in her cell and saw vomit both nights.

Neither worker reported the vomit directly to a nurse, as a nurse wasn't on shift when they found it. According to Brown, the nurse is usually gone by 9:30 p.m.

Correctional workers have a 24-hour telephone line that connects them with a doctor in case of emergency, but no one used it the night of Breanna's death.

Both witnesses had conversations with other staff at the end of their shifts and said they hoped other staff would tell the nurse about the vomit.

Leinen said Breanna asked for a doctor while in detention, but that correctional workers don't have the authority to make that call. She said they rely on the nurse for that.

Sherri said she is shaken by this week's proceedings but hopes it will be the beginning of change in the system.

"Breanna died — I imagine she died for some sort of reason. I imagine it is to help people to see that they don't have to treat human beings like that. A prisoner is a human being whether you're an addict or whatever," said Sherri.

The inquest is set to continue Thursday.