By Jill Sperling

Jury recommendations submitted at conclusion of coroners inquest

Apr 15, 2016 | 7:04 AM

KAMLOOPS — A jury presented the Chief Coroner of the Province of BC with 15 recommendations as an inquest into the death of a young man concluded Thursday. 

Jacob George Setah was a patient in the psychiatric ward of Royal Inland Hospital when he escaped and jumped from the hospital parkade in 2014. Before he jumped, Setah was tasered by an RCMP officer trying to return him to the ward. 

The recommendations include ensuring there are security cameras in all public areas of Royal Inland Hospital, and expanding cultural sensitivity training for care providers. The jury also felt it was important for the RCMP to review the use of tasers on patients under the mental health act. 

Jacob’s aunt Valerie Setah said she feels there is discrimination against First Nations people within the healthcare system, specifically in Williams Lake, where Jacob was from. 

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“There’s a lot of racism against First Nations,” Setah said.

“We have to really fight against the system to try to get help for our people, and I’m hoping that won’t happen again.”

The jury recommended the creation of a crisis response team in Williams Lake that is culturally inclusive, and that the First Nations Health Authority explore expansion of video conferencing health services to all remote communities. 

Valerie Setah said she’s hoping the recommendations will now be followed. 

“We assumed they were in place, we assumed that when he was brought (to Royal Inland Hospital) he was under the best care,” Setah said. “That wasn’t the case.”

She said the inquest has brought the family closure while bringing them together during a difficult time.