Tragic Incident at Washington Children’s Hospital

A children’s hospital in Washington has faced significant fallout after a 12-year-old patient tragically took his own life while under their care.

Sarah Niimbona, a caring and open middle schooler, died on April 13. Reports indicate that she left her room at Providence Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Spokane and jumped from the fourth floor of the parking garage.

Niyimbona had been admitted multiple times to the emergency room in 2024 due to previous suicide attempts, as noted by local news sources.

It has emerged that the hospital removed crucial safety measures, like 24-hour sitters, video monitors, and door alarms, despite her history of self-harm. A lawsuit filed by her family highlights these concerns.

Her mother, Nasra Gertrude, expressed her frustration, questioning how her daughter managed to leave her room unnoticed and walk to the elevator without any staff awareness. “I trusted this hospital to take care of my daughter,” she lamented.

Following this incident, 15 nurses were terminated from their positions, while another nurse received additional training. Questions remain about how Niyimbona was able to leave her room undetected. Reports indicate that a nurse accessed her medical records without being directly involved in her care.

The Washington Nurse Association, representing hospital staff, has labeled the firings as “retaliation” against the nurse who spoke to the media after Niyimbona’s death. The union mentioned that a complaint was filed to address the matter more effectively.

A hospital spokesperson noted that the terminations were necessary to protect patient privacy and indicated that internal reviews would continue, including the potential for more dismissals.

A state investigation into the circumstances surrounding Niyimbona’s death is currently underway.

In response to this tragedy, Providence has initiated an internal investigation and established new protocols, including suicide risk screenings for all patients and additional procedures for locating missing patients.

Niyimbona’s memory is being honored on a crowdfunding page that describes her as a “glowing light,” someone who “touched the hearts of everyone she met.”

Her 19-year-old sister, Asha Joseph, shared her confusion, expressing the need for answers about the lack of supervision at the time of the incident.

The Washington State Nurses Association has yet to respond to any requests for official comments.