Health-care providers testify as inquest begins into death of teenager Lexi Daken

WARNING: This story contains details about suicide.

A coroner's inquest began Monday morning into the death of 16-year-old Lexi Daken, who took her own life in February 2021, just days after being sent home from the Fredericton emergency department without receiving any mental health intervention.

A jury of three women and two men heard testimony from five witnesses on Monday — all of them health-care providers.  

Several of them testified about a suicide attempt Lexi made a few months before she died.

In November 2020, Lexi swallowed dozens of pills, including 30 extra-strength Tylenol, 30 Dilaudid, and several blood pressure-related pills, said Dr. Abayomi Otusajo, the psychiatrist who met with her at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital once she was medically stable. 

Lexi was taken by ambulance from her home in the early hours of Nov. 17. The paramedic, Edward Johnson, testified he asked Lexi about her "intent," and she said she had intended to "commit suicide." He also said she had been cutting her legs. 

Registered nurse Terry-Lynn Gray told the inquest that Lexi was assessed as a Level 2 priority, meaning she was supposed to be seen within 15 minutes. She was seen by a doctor within five minutes.

Gray said Lexi was conscious and alert and her vital signs were good, despite the pills she had taken. Once she was medically cleared, she saw a psychiatrist at 8:45 a.m. and discharged by him at 9:50 a.m.

Otusajo said he diagnosed Lexi as having borderline personality traits and major depressive disorder. He prescribed her anti-depressant medication and gave her a referral for community-based mental health services. 

That referral initially went to the wrong group, explained Haley Manuel, a registered nurse with the North Side Child and Youth Team.

Manuel said the referral was erroneously sent to the Oromocto team based on the assumption that the Maugerville teen attended Oromocto High School. 

There was also a delay in reaching the family. Phone calls made and messages left on Nov. 18, 19 and 20 were not returned, she said. The team mailed a letter on Nov. 20, Lexi's dad responded to that, and an intake call was conducted on Dec. 18. 

There was no explanation given about whether the team had the right phone number. 

Lexi's case was flagged as a "high priority" and assigned to Manuel.