(Photo of Michael Patrick Robillard, submitted by Raelene Adam)
Raelene Adam, Michael Patrick Robillard’s sister, stated Robillard had been drinking frequently prior to his death, and he called one of his friends, saying that he was scared and was going to the hospital.
On September 4, Robillard decided to go to the Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert and was redirected to the Brief and Social Detox Centre. Instead of receiving proper care and help at the centre, Robillard was left unattended for hours and passed away that afternoon.
“He hadn’t been checked on from 11:30 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon when they found him deceased, “Adam said. “I’m a registered nurse, and I know what we have to do for people who are withdrawing from alcohol,”
The fact that Robillard was left unattended for multiple hours suggests that staff weren’t treating his withdrawals as a medical emergency, but what happened at the Victoria Hospital and Detox Centre is unknown at this time.
“It was handled very, very poorly: discrimination and negligence,” stated Adam. “He could have just detoxed on the street and gotten better care,”
The Saskatchewan Health Authority has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Robillard’s death, but Adam says that it has been difficult to get any answers.
“We’re very, very upset and disappointed with the health care system right now,” she said.
(Photo: Robillard and his cousin, submitted by Raelene Adam)
Robillard leaves behind two daughters. His wake and funeral services took place in the city earlier this month.
“He’d always just show up here and be like, ‘Hey, siss, how’s it going?’ and stuff like that, and it’s almost like I just expect that to happen and it’s not happening,” she said while wiping away tears. “He was a really genuinely humble guy, and he was the sweetest brother,”
MBC will provide new information on this story if updates become available.