Trial for involuntary manslaughter: a former doctor “euthanized” an 84-year-old patient, pleads the Crown

A former anesthesiologist from Laval “euthanized” an octogenarian at the end of his life by administering medications to him in full knowledge that they would hasten his death, the Crown argued at the opening of his trial.

“In a few words, [Raymond] Bissonnette was euthanized,” summarized Me Alexis Marcotte Bélanger, from the public prosecutor’s office, at the Saint-Jérôme courthouse.

He outlined the main lines that the prosecution intended to present in order to prove that Isabelle Desormeau should be found guilty of the manslaughter of Raymond Bissonnette.

Since Monday morning, the ex-doctor has been undergoing his four-week trial before judge Marc-André Dagenais. Several former colleagues, witnesses and experts will take the stand.

The 84-year-old victim died in disturbing circumstances at Cité-de-la-Santé hospital in Laval on November 1, 2019.

The day before, Mr. Bissonnette had presented himself to the emergency room with stomach aches.

In the operating room, the surgeon discovered necrosis on his small intestine, and called his niece.

The latter asked the surgeon to close the abdominal wall and provide palliative care, as her uncle wished.

Great experience

Subsequently, during a conversation with an intensive care doctor, Desormeau would have warned that the octogenarian was going to die, according to Pamela Lemieux, a respiratory therapist.

Judging that the patient’s death was imminent, the doctor administered midazolam, propofol and fentanyl to Mr. Bissonnette and removed him from respiratory assistance.

“An anesthesiologist with such great experience knew that the care provided from 4:45 a.m. would cause the patient’s death,” argued Me Alexis Marcotte Bélanger.

The 53-year-old accused would also have brushed aside the objections of the staff on site, emphasizing that the patient had no family.

Approximately 15 to 20 minutes after the ventilator was removed, Mr. Bissonnette died.

Isabelle Desormeau resigned from her position at the hospital shortly after the events. An investigation by the College of Physicians of Quebec was opened, and the accused agreed to no longer carry out the procedures.

The trial continues all day.

More details to come…