The recent initiative by the province to extend involuntary care services to encompass severe addiction cases has been criticized by the parents of a 13-year-old girl who passed away last month from a suspected overdose. According to the parents, they made several attempts to seek treatment for their daughter, Brianna MacDonald, before her tragic death in Abbotsford, B.C., but were unsuccessful.
Premier David Eby announced the expansion of involuntary care admissions to include mental health and addiction treatments for individuals with brain injuries, mental disorders, and severe addiction. However, MacDonald expressed that this change came too late to provide the necessary care for Brianna.
MacDonald recounted bringing Brianna to the hospital following an overdose incident in February. Despite being transferred to different healthcare facilities, including a children’s hospital and one in Surrey, Brianna was discharged after approximately a week and a half, much to her mother’s distress.
Under the current Mental Health Act in B.C., individuals can be held in psychiatric facilities if deemed essential for their well-being or the safety of others by a medical professional. Fraser Health spokesperson Nick Eagland highlighted that decisions regarding treatment for young individuals adhere to B.C.’s mature minor consent regulations outlined in the Infants Act, where youths have the authority to consent to treatment independently.
Brianna’s passing in August due to a suspected overdose was confirmed by the Abbotsford Police Department. The B.C. Coroners Service is still investigating the circumstances surrounding her death. Premier Eby expressed deep sympathy for the MacDonald family, calling Brianna’s death a “horrific” tragedy.
MacDonald, while acknowledging the inability to save her daughter, expressed hope that the expansion of involuntary care services could benefit other individuals grappling with severe addiction and their families. She emphasized the importance of these changes in potentially preventing similar tragedies in the future.