Spokane, WA — August 11, 2025 – In a deeply troubling case that has raised urgent questions about patient safety and privacy protocols, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center has terminated the employment of 15 nurses and disciplined another following the suicide of 12-year-old Sarah June Niyimbona while under hospital care. The move has ignited sharp criticism and a formal grievance by the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA).
Sarah tragically died on April 13 when she left her hospital room unnoticed and jumped from the fourth floor of the hospital’s parking garage. Hospital records indicate she had a documented history of multiple suicide attempts and had been brought into the emergency department several times in 2024.
Central to the controversy is a lawsuit filed by Sarah’s family, alleging that despite her high risk of self-harm, key safety measures—such as a 24-hour in-person sitter, video monitoring, and a door alarm—had been removed prior to her death. The family’s suit contends the hospital failed to properly supervise her, creating a circumstance in which she could exit her room undetected.
Providence cites alleged HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) violations as the basis for the dismissals. Hospital spokesperson Jen York stated that the nurses were terminated for accessing Sarah’s medical records without being directly involved in her care—an action the hospital deems unlawful and necessary to address.
However, the WSNA alleges that the firings were in fact acts of retaliation against nurses who spoke to the media about the tragic circumstances leading to Sarah’s death. The union asserts that the accessed records were relevant to patient care during a crisis and that terminating the staff was unjust. A formal grievance has been filed on behalf of the nurses, a process the union acknowledges may take considerable time to resolve.
The case has also drawn regulatory scrutiny. A Washington State Department of Health investigation revealed that the hospital endangered multiple suicidal patients in the months leading up to Sarah’s death. Following the probe, Providence was required to submit a corrective safety plan to address violations of its own safety and screening policies.
Sarah’s family has also filed a lawsuit against the hospital, pursuing damages for negligence, insufficient supervision, and emotional trauma stemming from what they argue was a preventable tragedy.