Four-Year-Old Girl Dies After Asthma Attack at Gatineau Hospital, Mother Cites Negligence
A four-year-old girl died at the Gatineau hospital on March 13, 2026, following an asthma attack. The child’s mother is publicly denouncing what she describes as negligence from the medical team and a lack of compassion during the critical hours her daughter struggled to breathe.
Emergency Room Wait and Delayed Response
According to reports from TVA News, the mother rushed her daughter to the hospital emergency room when she began experiencing severe breathing difficulties. Despite arriving promptly, the child reportedly waited several hours before receiving adequate medical attention. During this time, the mother administered Ventolin inhalers to her daughter in an attempt to alleviate her symptoms.
Mother’s Plea for Respiratory Therapist Ignored
As the wait continued, the mother repeatedly requested that her daughter be seen by a respiratory therapist. She alleges that her pleas were not taken seriously by the hospital staff, and her concerns were dismissed. The mother claims that staff only reacted when her daughter went into cardiorespiratory arrest.
Denouncement of Medical Team’s Actions
“There was a doctor who came, there was a nurse who came, there was a respiratory therapist. You all have certifications, you all have a duty to save lives. […] You had the knowledge to do that, then you were not human enough,” the mother stated in an interview with TVA News. She emphasized that her criticism is not directed at systemic issues within the healthcare system, such as staffing shortages, but rather at the perceived lack of humanity and negligence exhibited by the medical team on duty that evening.
Coroner’s Investigation and Potential Legal Action
The case has been referred to the coroner for investigation. The mother has also indicated her intention to pursue legal action. “It’s me who goes out with a child in a bag, it’s not them. At that time, I didn’t have a call from the hospital, I didn’t have a call from people who worked there, I didn’t have anything,” she lamented.
Understanding Asthma Attacks and Emergency Response
Asthma attacks occur when the airways in the lungs become inflamed and narrowed, making it difficult to breathe. According to the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, in the event of an asthma attack, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention by calling 9-1-1 or transporting the individual to the nearest hospital. Having any relevant medical information, such as medication details, readily available can assist medical professionals in providing appropriate care.
— With information from Kémilia Laliberté, TVA Nouvelles
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