Parole granted to former nurse in northwestern Ont. responsible for fatal drug overdose

A patient under Lindsey Cole's care was given more than double the prescribed amount of morphine, leading to her death in a Fort Frances hospital in January 2015. (File)

A former nurse in Fort Frances, Ont., whose drug addiction led to the fatal overdose of a patient has been granted day parole.

Lindsey Coyle, 39, received a two-year sentence for criminal negligence causing death for the January 2015 overdose of an elderly patient under her care at the hospital. Coyle was found guilty in 2022.

It emerged that she had a drug addiction and was stealing morphine from the hospital through various means, including creating fictitious patients.

Coyle would also make notations on charts that increased the amount of morphine prescribed to a patient, then steal the excess.

"During an audit, it was determined that the victim was admitted to the hospital in December 2014 and was prescribed 2-4 mgs of morphine, as needed, by her doctor," said documents obtained from the Parole Board of Canada.

"During your shift on Jan. 3, 2015, you changed the victim's dosage to 10 mgs by way of a handwritten note. Information indicates you inflated the dosage to take the excess for yourself."

Coyle finished her shift and care for the patient was taken over by the night crew. However, she failed to correct the morphine dosage, and staff twice gave the woman 10 mgs of morphine, more than double the amount she was supposed to receive.

"The victim was found deceased the following morning, and a forensic pathologist said that 'on the balance of probabilities, (the victim) died as a result of morphine toxicity.'"

Gave up her nursing licence

Coyle later admitted she had a drug problem and gave up her nursing licence. A 2017 audit uncovered what had happened and the criminal charges were laid in 2019.

She was initially charged with second-degree murder, among other offences. She was on bail from August 2019 until January 2024 – with her mother as her surety -- allowing her to care for her two young children.

A report on her background revealed that she was sexually assaulted by a family friend when she was seven years old.

"You reported this to your parents at the time, but they did not believe or support your claim," the parole board report said.

She began drinking when she was 10 and began binge drinking when her alcoholic father died in 2005 "as a coping mechanism."

She began abusing opiates in 2014 after she became a nurse, initially getting the drugs from what's called a 'disposal bucket' where drugs were placed that were no longer needed by patients.

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"You indicated in your file that you never stole medication directly from patients but created fictitious patients and inflated prescriptions for real patients," the parole board said.

"During your hearing, you described your behaviour as selfish."

During her parole hearing, the board heard from the family of the victim, describing "the profound physical and psychological trauma they have experienced as a result of your actions, and the fear and distrust they now have for those employed in health care settings."

Her risk to reoffend is rated as low, with around five per cent of federal offenders in her category committing another crime within three years of their release.

While she admitted to once consuming alcohol during her probation – which she self-reported – Coyle has not consumed opiates since committing her offence.

Release plan

Her release plan includes caring for her children until they go to school and then getting a job in the trades.

"There is a civil lawsuit in the amount of $130,000 that you will need to deal with," the report said.

"However, you are not aware of the timeline for this debt to be paid. Nevertheless, you plan to consult a lawyer and arrange a payment plan. Information on file notes that you plan to file for bankruptcy upon your release."

Her release conditions include monthly meetings with her parole supervisor, monthly urine tests and travel limited to a certain radius, outside of which she requires permission.

Coyle is also not allowed to communicate with the victim's family unless it's through her lawyer for the purpose of the civil suit. She must also report any breakup in her relationship since that is what led her to drink while she was free on bail.