Witness Testimony

Sara Martens testified that her husband was involved in a motor vehicle accident on October 20, 2021, after reportedly experiencing a blackout while driving near Austin, Manitoba. He sustained spinal injuries, brain bleeds, and abdominal trauma and was admitted to Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. She stated that he tested positive for COVID but was told the infection was mild and incidental. Despite stable oxygen support and no apparent respiratory distress during a Friday phone call, she was later informed he had been intubated without prior family consultation.
Martens testified that a physician attributed the initial driving blackout to a “COVID blackout,” dismissing other potential contributing factors including kidney stone complications and infection. She questioned how informed consent for intubation could be obtained from a patient described as confused. Following intubation, she stated that her husband never regained consciousness and experienced complications including a lung injury from the ventilator and blood clot concerns complicated by existing brain bleeds.
She further testified that family visitation was denied throughout hospitalization, including at end-of-life, despite her assertion that she possessed equivalent personal protective equipment. Communication with physicians was limited and often delayed, and she described pressure to authorize withdrawal of life support. After his death on November 5, 2021, she stated that Workers Compensation denied a claim on the basis that COVID—not traumatic injuries—was the cause of death. Martens concluded that protocols prevented family presence, meaningful consultation, and full consideration of contributing medical factors.