An ambulance passes by the emergency entrance of Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday, April 9, 2021. The Canadian Press
The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority faces a lawsuit over the death of 32-year-old musician Benjamin Marks Woo, the son of Canadian Senator Yuen Pau Woo. His mother, Dr. Patricia McAvity, filed the suit in B.C. Supreme Court, claiming hospital staff failed to protect her son while he was under involuntary psychiatric care at Vancouver General Hospital.
Benjamin’s body was discovered on hospital grounds four days after he disappeared in November 2023. Dr. McAvity accuses the health authority, its staff, and Paladin Security Group of negligence that led to her son’s death.
Concerns Ignored Before Tragedy
According to the claim, Benjamin had battled mental illness for about ten years and was admitted to Vancouver General Hospital in August 2023 as an involuntary patient. His mother says she warned staff that her son was at risk of suicide and drug overdose, but her concerns went unheeded.
On November 11, Benjamin was allowed to leave the hospital for a one-hour cigarette break but did not return. His parents repeatedly asked staff to search for him, but the lawsuit says hospital personnel assured them that a full search had been done. However, the claim states that no proper search took place, especially in areas known to contain drug paraphernalia and where Benjamin was last seen.
His body was found four days later on hospital property. Dr. McAvity’s lawsuit argues that if staff had acted quickly, Benjamin might have received life-saving treatment. The delay also meant his organs could not be donated, despite his wishes.
Hospital and Family Silent
Neither the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority nor Senator Woo has commented publicly on the case. Dr. McAvity’s lawyer, Anthony Leoni, said his client is too heartbroken to speak about her loss.
The lawsuit names the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Dr. Vineet Singh, Paladin Security Group, and unnamed hospital employees as defendants. The allegations have not been proven in court.
A Life of Talent and Struggle
Benjamin Woo was a gifted musician and scholar. His personal website says he studied at Harvard University, where he conducted the Harvard Mozart Society Orchestra. He also wrote openly about his mental health experiences.
In one of his memoir excerpts, Benjamin shared how he felt stigmatized because of his illness. He wrote that many people viewed his struggles as “an awful predicament,” but he believed his journey also held moments of “wonder, faith, and beauty.”
Lawsuit Highlights Mental Health Concerns
The case raises broader questions about the care and safety of psychiatric patients in hospitals. Dr. McAvity hopes the lawsuit will bring accountability and encourage improvements in how mental health patients are monitored and supported.
