Samwel Uko’s family suing SHA, provincial government

The parents of a man who died by suicide in Regina in May have launched a lawsuit against the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and the Government of Saskatchewan.

Samwel Uko died May 21, drowning in Wascana Lake after attempting to get help for mental health issues. The 20-year-old football player went to the Regina General Hospital (RGH) twice that day in hopes of getting treatment.

In a statement of claim issued Friday by Regina lawyer Tony Merchant, Uko’s parents are seeking damages for such things as grief, loss of companionship, loss of valuable services and loss of earnings.

According to the statement of claim, Uko went to the hospital on the morning of May 21, but was released after being diagnosed with depression and referred to a mental health clinic. He later consulted a mental health worker and admitted he had suicidal tendences.

The lawsuit contends Uko was referred to a psychiatrist and also told to go back to the hospital if he felt worse.

The statement of claim says that at 5 p.m., Uko called 911 and reported he was having mental health issues, so he was taken to the hospital again by police officers. But he subsequently was escorted out of the hospital by security after failing to provide his name and details.

At 7:30 p.m., his body was found in Wascana Lake.

The claim alleges the SHA — which oversees the operation of the General Hospital — “allowed discriminatory and inadequate medical practices to occur and be conducted on Samwel seeking treatment and assistance for his mental health at the RGH.”

“The SHA knew or ought to have known that its actions and omissions were of a kind reasonably capable of causing damages to patients struggling with mental health issues, like Samwel,” the statement of claim adds.

The lawsuit claims the provincial government also was negligent for not ensuring its policies and practices regarding patients with mental health issues were up to an appropriate standard.

“Saskatchewan failed to protect Samwel, who struggled with mental health issues in his most vulnerable state, from the institutional negligence prevalent in the exercise of the health care policies and practices,” the statement of claim said.

It claims the failure of the defendants to create policies and guidelines for the treatment of patients with mental health issues “was grossly negligent and in light of the extreme consequences that such negligent (sic) carry, can be construed as highhanded conduct in gross violation of the rights of Samwel and the Plaintiffs.”

In June, the provincial government announced a coroner’s inquest would be held to investigate the circumstances surrounding Uko’s death.

In July, the SHA made a public apology to Uko’s family, with CEO Scott Livingstone saying: “Samwel did not get the care he needed.”

The statement of claim contains allegations not yet proven in court.