Spokane, WA – The family of a 12-year-old girl who tragically died by suicide while under 24-hour supervision at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the facility. The case has garnered attention as the hospital fired 15 nurses in connection with the aftermath of the tragedy, with accusations of privacy violations linked to media coverage.
Girl’s Struggle with Depression and Care at Sacred Heart
According to the lawsuit, Sarah June Niyimbona began experiencing severe symptoms of depression in September 2024. Her mother, Nasra Gertrude, sought medical care for Sarah, and in January 2025, the young girl was admitted to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Spokane, Washington. Sarah’s treatment plan included inpatient psychiatric services due to her ongoing struggles with depression, self-harm, and previous suicide attempts.
As part of her care, the hospital provided 24-hour supervision to prevent self-harm and protect her from suicidal actions. However, the lawsuit alleges that, despite this measure, Sacred Heart removed the staff member responsible for monitoring Sarah and deactivated the video monitoring devices in her room, a move that would have severe consequences.
Tragic Incident Leads to Death by Suicide
On April 13, 2025, the unthinkable happened. Despite the supposed safeguards, Sarah was able to leave her room undetected and wander the hospital freely. She made her way to the fourth floor of the hospital parking structure and tragically jumped to her death. The lawsuit claims that, although Sarah did not die immediately, she suffered catastrophic lower extremity injuries and, in her final moments, experienced fear, pain, and suffering.
“The hospital’s actions and negligence in the care of Sarah directly contributed to her death,” the lawsuit states.
Firing of Nurses Sparks Controversy
In the aftermath of Sarah’s death, local news outlet The Spokesman-Review reported that 15 nurses from Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital were fired for allegedly violating HIPAA by accessing Sarah’s private medical records following her death. However, the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) disputed the claims, asserting that the terminations were retaliation for nurses speaking out to the media after the tragedy…