A 30-year-old Saskatoon woman, Kirsten Hanke, died from a pulmonary embolism following a delay in her ankle surgery at Royal University Hospital. Her family is now demanding accountability as the Saskatchewan Health Authority launches a formal investigation into the circumstances.
The eight-hour delay at Royal University Hospital
The sequence of events leading to the death of Kirsten Hanke began on August 12, when the 30-year-old Saskatoon resident broke her ankle in three places after falling on her front step. her husband, Kirby Morgan, reported that the visit to Royal University Hospital was marked by significant administrative confusion. According to the report, nurses were reportedly "dumbfounded" regarding the couple's appointment during the first two hours of their stay.
After an eight-hour wait, the medical team informed the couple that Hanke's surgery would be postponed to a later date. This delay meant that Hanke returned home despite the severity of her injury, which included a broken ankle and a sprain in her other ankle. Kirby Morgan expressed that the family believes Hanke would still be alive today if the surgery had been performed as originally scheduled.
A fatal pulmonary embolism after an August 19 CT scan
The medical crisis escalated on August 19, the day before Hanke's rescheduled surgery, when she returned to the hospital for a pre-operative CT scan. Following this procedure, Hanke was sent home, where she reportedly collapsed twice in front of her mother, Shawna Hanke. She was subsequently rushed back to the hospital, but medical staff determined she had died from a pulmonary embolism.
A pulmonary embolism occurs when blood clots, often originating in the lower extremities like a broken ankle, travel through the bloodstream to the lungs. The Hanke family is now seeking clarity on the medical decisions made during the window between her initial injury and her death . Kirby Morgan described the profound personal loss, noting that his wife was a kind and thoughtful person whose absence has left a permanent void.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority's 'critical incident' review
In response to the tragedy,the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has launched a priority internal safety review . As the SHA reported, the death has been classified as a "critical incident," a designation that mandates a legislated process for formal internal review and disclosure to the grieving family . the authority stated it expects a thorough examination of the circumstances to ensure safe, high-quality care for all patients in Saskatchewan.
The incident has also drawn political scrutiny from the Saskatchewan NDP. leader Carla Beck argued that the healthcare system requires urgent reform, stating that families should not be forced to involve the media to receive accountability for such serious medical errors . Beck's comments highlight a growing tension regarding the management of patient safety within the province's medical institutions.
Why was Hanke discharged following her pre-operative scan?
The most pressing question facing investigators is why Kirsten Hanke was permitted to leave the hospital after her CT scan on August 19. The family remains uncertain about the clinical reasoning that allowed a patient with a recent,severe ankle injury to return home. Whether there were missed warning signs or a failure in the discharge protocol remains a central point of the investigation.
Furthermore, the SHA has yet to provide specific details regarding the "additional actions" that will result from the safety review. While the authority has promised to engage the Hanke family in the process, the specific medical protocols that failed Hanke have not been publicly disclosed. The family hopes that by speaking out, they can prevent similar delays and subsequent fatalities in the future.
Comments 0