Allison Holthoff Death Cause and Obituary, How Did Allison Holthoff Die?
by Maivizhi A
Updated Jun 25, 2023
Allison Holthoff Death Cause And Obituary
Holthoff, a 37-year-old mother of three children, passed away on New Year’s Eve at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre. Her family alleges that she died due to complications related to an untreated splenic aneurysm, which could have been detected if she had received a CT scan.
According to Henderson's report on the family's account of Holthoff's visit to the emergency room, she was experiencing severe pain in the upper left side of her abdomen, difficulty breathing, and nausea. She was unable to support her own weight.
As per the statement of claim, Holthoff was triaged by a nurse who took a blood sample. When a urine sample was requested, her husband Gunter accompanied her to the bathroom to assist. Inside the bathroom, she collapsed, and two security guards came to help Gunter lift her back into the wheelchair.
"The Deceased's condition quickly deteriorated within the first hour of waiting in the hospital's waiting room," states the court filing.
"She was in extreme pain and nauseous. She was vomiting bile. She was unable to sit straight in her wheelchair and remained slumped in the fetal position to one side. She was no longer effectively able to verbalize sentences. The Deceased's husband, along with witnesses in the waiting room, continued to report the Deceased's urgent condition to the Defendant's nursing staff."
According to the statement, Holthoff was in too much pain to stay seated and spent some time curled up in a fetal position on the floor before eventually being placed in a private cubicle at approximately 3 pm. No monitoring equipment was present, and it wasn't until three hours later, around 6 pm, that a nurse reassessed Holthoff's vital signs.
The court document indicates that the patient was found to be "extremely hypotensive and tachycardic," meaning she had very low blood pressure and a rapid heart rate.
At that point, Holthoff was taken to an observation room where she was examined by Dr. Atia, who ordered an IV and pain relief. Further tests were also ordered but, before they could be conducted, "the patient went into cardiac arrest." She passed away at around 7 pm, approximately eight hours after arriving at the emergency department.
In the defense filed by lawyer Karen N. Bennett-Clayton of Stewart McKelvey, Nova Scotia Health asserts that "any injury, loss or damage sustained by the Plaintiff [Holthoff's family] was not caused by the negligence on the part of the Defendant Health Authority or anyone for whom Defendant Health Authority would be responsible at law."
Additionally, Nova Scotia Health's defense claims that "any care provided by them to Allison Holthoff was provided reasonably, appropriately, and in a manner consistent with the applicable standard care in the circumstances."
Allison Holthoff's Death
Holthoff, a 37-year-old mother of three, passed away at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre emergency room on New Year's Eve after waiting for care for seven hours. The lawsuit stated that she had reported "extreme pain in the upper left side of her abdomen, labored breathing, and nausea" and that she died from an untreated splenic artery aneurysm.
The lawsuit claimed that her husband, Gunter, had expressed concerns about Holthoff's condition multiple times, but she was largely left unattended. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, including special, pecuniary, and non-pecuniary damages. It should be noted that the allegations have not been proven in court.
In response, a notice of defense was filed by the Nova Scotia Health Authority on February 28. It stated that any harm, loss, or damage suffered by the plaintiff was not a result of negligence on their part or on the part of anyone for whom they are responsible. The health authority maintained that the care provided to Allison Holthoff was reasonable, appropriate, and consistent with the applicable standard of care in the given circumstances.
The notice of defense specifically denied the allegations made in one section of the lawsuit. This section claimed that the defendant, along with their agents and employees, breached their duty of care by:
The notice of defense did not present an alternative sequence of events regarding the night of Holthoff's death.
The defense stated, "The Defendant Health Authority challenges the Plaintiff to provide strict proof of damages" and requested the dismissal of the action with costs.
How Did Allison Holthoff Die?
Allison Holthoff died in a Canadian emergency room waiting room after waiting for approximately seven hours for treatment. She was rushed to the hospital due to worsening symptoms, but despite her deteriorating condition, she did not see a doctor until late in the evening.
During the examination, she collapsed while trying to provide a urine sample. Allison's condition continued to worsen, and she eventually experienced a cardiac arrest caused by internal bleeding. Despite the possibility of surgery, her chances of survival were less than one percent. The incident has sparked concerns about Canadian healthcare, and an investigation has been initiated.
What happened to Allison Holthoff?
Allison Holthoff, a 37-year-old mother of three, tragically died in a Canadian emergency room waiting room after waiting for approximately seven hours. She was rushed to the hospital in Nova Scotia due to worsening symptoms, but despite her condition deteriorating, she did not see a doctor until late in the afternoon.
During the examination, she collapsed while trying to provide a urine sample. Her condition worsened further, and she pleaded with her husband, expressing that she felt like she was dying. Nurses allegedly ignored her as she writhed in pain on the floor. Eventually, she suffered a cardiac arrest and was found to have been experiencing internal bleeding. Despite the possibility of surgery, her chances of survival were less than one percent, and the family made the difficult decision not to proceed. The incident has raised concerns about the quality of healthcare in Canada, leading to an investigation by the Nova Scotia Health Authority.
Allison Holthoff Death Cause And Obituary - FAQs
Allison Holthoff's death was attributed to complications related to an untreated splenic artery aneurysm. She passed away in the emergency room of the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre on New Year's Eve.
Allison Holthoff waited for approximately seven hours in the emergency room before receiving treatment.
Allison Holthoff experienced severe pain in the upper left side of her abdomen, difficulty breathing, and nausea. Her condition worsened over time, and she was unable to support her own weight.
Yes, Allison Holthoff's husband, Gunter, repeatedly raised concerns about her condition to the nursing staff. However, according to the lawsuit, she remained largely unattended.
According to the court filing, it took approximately three hours for a nurse to reassess Allison Holthoff's vital signs after she was placed in a private cubicle. At that point, she was found to be extremely hypotensive (low blood pressure) and tachycardic (rapid heart rate).