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

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

Lindsey Coyle, 39, was sentenced to two years in prison for criminal negligence causing death following the January 2015 overdose of an elderly patient under her care. She was convicted in 2022.

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

Coyle also manipulated medical charts to increase the amount of morphine prescribed to patients and then stole the surplus for her own use.

"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," according to documents 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."

After finishing her shift, Coyle did not correct the dosage, and the night staff administered 10 mgs of morphine to the patient twice, more than double the prescribed amount.

"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.'"

Surrendered Nursing License
Coyle later admitted to her drug addiction and surrendered her nursing license. A 2017 audit revealed the full extent of her actions, leading to criminal charges in 2019.

She initially faced charges including second-degree murder. Coyle was released on bail from August 2019 until January 2024, with her mother acting as her surety, allowing her to care for her two young children.

A background report detailed that Coyle had been sexually assaulted by a family friend at the age of seven.

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

Coyle began drinking at the age of 10 and turned to binge drinking after her alcoholic father passed away in 2005, using alcohol as a coping mechanism.

She started abusing opiates in 2014 after becoming a nurse, initially obtaining drugs from a 'disposal bucket' where unused medications were discarded.

"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 behavior as selfish."

During the parole hearing, the victim's family spoke about 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."

Coyle's risk of reoffending is rated as low, with only about five percent of federal offenders in her category committing another crime within three years of release.

While she admitted to consuming alcohol once during her probation—a violation she self-reported—Coyle has not used opiates since the incident.

Release Plan
Her release plan includes caring for her children until they start school, after which she plans to pursue a career in the trades.

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

"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."

Coyle's release conditions include monthly meetings with her parole supervisor, monthly urine tests, and travel restrictions, requiring permission to go beyond a certain radius.

She is also prohibited from contacting the victim's family, except through her lawyer for the purpose of the civil suit. Additionally, she must report any breakup in her relationship, as this was a factor that led to her drinking while out on bail.