Toronto Star – Niagara Ontario Health Team Planning Table (NOHT) has voiced its support for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Heather Winterstein, an Indigenous woman who collapsed and died in the emergency room at the St. Catharines site of Niagara Health.

Carol Stewart-Kirkby, co-lead for the health team, said there is a need to acknowledge systemic racism exists, confront anti-Indigenous bias and seek change. “This incident is a tragic reminder of the urgent need to work to understand how the legacy of colonization continues to impact health-care systems,” Stewart-Kirby said. “Our thoughts are focused on supporting the people most directly involved.”

Winterstein had visited the emergency room on Dec. 9. Complaining of pain, she was given Tylenol and sent home. She was brought back to the hospital by ambulance the next day, complaining of severe back pain and later died before seeing a doctor. Her family was told Heather died as the result of a strep A infection.
Niagara Health announced it would be conducting an internal investigation into Winterstein’s death and had invited her family and Indigenous leaders in Niagara to be a part of it and a broader investigation that would consider the experiences of Indigenous people in the health-care system in Niagara.