St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital
UPDATE – OCTOBER 18, 2024 – The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has certified a class action against the government of Ontario on behalf of patients in the Psychosocial Treatment Program (referenced as unit PST, 2C, P2C, PST or PSTU) on the forensic unit at St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital between 1976 and 1992, their estates, and family members with derivative claims for damages under s. 61 of the Family Law Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. F.3.
St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital, which was located in St. Thomas, Ontario, was a psychiatric facility operated by the government of Ontario. The Plaintiffs allege that the Class Members were subjected to an experimental, punitive, and abusive patient-run Program with no medical merit. It is alleged that this Program, which was run by the government of Ontario, was contrary to prevailing medical and ethical standards, exposed the Class Members to psychological, physical, and sexual abuse, and caused the Class Members harm. The Court has not made any determination yet on the merits of these allegations. The Defendant, the government of Ontario, denies these allegations.
To access the Short and Long-form notices in English and French as well as the opt-out forms and the Order Approving Notice of Certification please follow the links below:
Short-Form Certification Notice (English)
Short-Form Certification Notice (French)
Long-Form Certification Notice (English)
Long-Form Certification Notice (French)
Opt-Out Form (English)
Opt-Out Form (French)
Order Approving Notice of Certification – September 29, 2024
If you have questions or concerns feel free to contact Rochon Genova at 1-416-363-1867; 1-866-881-2292; [email protected].
The Notice Administrator is called Dewar Communications Inc. and they can be reached at 1-416-921-1827 ext. 229; [email protected].
TORONTO, JANUARY 27, 2022 – Rochon Genova has commenced a proposed class action against the Ontario government and the former medical and unit directors of the former St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital (“St. Thomas”) relating to their alleged systemic abuses of involuntary patients between the years 1976 and 1992.
St. Thomas was a government operated psychiatric facility located in St. Thomas, Ontario. The claim alleges that, from 1976 to 1992, involuntary patients detained in the medium secure forensic unit of St. Thomas were subjected to an abusive and punitive patient-run program with no medical merit.
The proposed class action, filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, alleges that this “treatment” program, run with the government of Ontario’s knowledge for over a decade, was initially developed and implemented by patients detained in the maximum security Oak Ridge Division of the Mental Health Centre Penetanguishene, including those with histories of sexual violence.
As part of this program, male patients were transferred from Oak Ridge to St. Thomas and placed in charge of the control, treatment, and punishment of female patients. These female patients included teenagers such as the proposed representative plaintiff, who was seventeen years old at the time of her admission at St. Thomas.
The claim alleges that Ontario and the former medical and unit directors of St. Thomas who oversaw the program were systemically negligent and breached their fiduciary duties and the patients’ Charter rights by implementing this unethical, harmful and medically meritless patient-run program.
The claims have not yet been proven in court. For information about this proposed class action please contact Golnaz Nayerahmadi ([email protected]) or Sarah Fiddes ([email protected]) at (416) 363-1867 or 1-866-881-2292.