A young Cree couple is speaking out after a miscommunication at Thompson General Hospital led them to believe their baby had died.
A routine prenatal appointment turned into a traumatic ordeal for 18-year-old Kaitlyn Albert, a young mother from Norway House Cree Nation, after she was wrongly led to believe her unborn baby had died. Now, her family is demanding answers—and justice.
The incident occurred at Thompson General Hospital in northern Manitoba, where Albert had gone for a checkup with her partner, Ethan Coates, on February 4. According to the family, hospital staff called later and delivered shocking news: the baby wasn’t breathing.
The couple rushed back to the hospital, devastated. But upon arrival, staff claimed there was no record of the call—and the baby was healthy.
Emotional Toll and Allegations of Racism
At a news conference organized by Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin, an advocacy group for northern First Nations health care, the family described the experience as a “nightmare.” They accused the hospital of not only medical negligence but also verbal abuse and racism.
Albert’s mother-in-law, Dana Coates, said hospital staff were dismissive and hostile. A doctor allegedly shouted at Coates’ son, suggesting he would be at fault if anything happened to the baby. The ultrasound technician reportedly refused to allow him in the room and was rough during the procedure.
Albert’s mother, Lynn, said the incident left her daughter shaken and mistrustful of the health-care system. It took days before Kaitlyn agreed to seek further care, which she eventually received in Winnipeg.
A System Failing Indigenous Mothers
Speaking out publicly, Kaitlyn Albert said,
“No Indigenous woman should have to fight to be treated with respect in a hospital.”
Her mother added,
“This was supposed to be a joyful time. Instead, it was a nightmare.”
The family’s account highlights broader concerns about systemic racism in Manitoba’s health-care system—especially in northern regions where First Nations patients frequently report discriminatory treatment.
Calls for Accountability
Norway House councillor Deon Clarke is calling for a formal review of the hospital’s practices. Clarke called for a review of the hospital’s services and doctors care stating that
“This ain’t 1950. This is 2025.”
Dr. Barry Lavallee, CEO of Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin, said the incident was emblematic of widespread racial bias in health care and called for biased health-care providers to step down.
Dr. Lavallee commented that
“We don’t want to continue paying your mortgage while you treat our people with cruelty.”
What Needs to Change
The Manitoba government says it is supporting anti-racism training for health-care workers, but advocates argue more meaningful changes are needed—including accountability for harmful incidents and better support for Indigenous patients.
As Kaitlyn Albert and her family continue to process their experience, their message is clear: no other family should have to endure such trauma to receive basic prenatal care.
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From CBC News