A former health-care manager at Winnipeg's Seven Oaks General Hospital has filed a lawsuit against the hospital and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA), alleging wrongful dismissal after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from witnessing a violent workplace stabbing.
The Traumatic Incident and Its Aftermath
The legal action stems from a violent event that occurred within the hospital. The manager, whose identity is protected in the court filings, was present during a stabbing incident involving staff. Following this traumatic event, the employee was diagnosed with PTSD, a serious mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.
According to the claim, instead of receiving adequate accommodation and support for their work-related injury, the manager was subsequently dismissed from their position. The lawsuit contends that the termination was a direct result of the PTSD diagnosis and the employer's failure to provide a safe and accommodating work environment following the trauma.
Legal Claims Against Hospital and Health Authority
The statement of claim names both Seven Oaks General Hospital and the WRHA as defendants. It alleges that the defendants breached their duty to provide a safe workplace and failed in their obligation to accommodate the employee's disability, as required by Manitoba's human rights legislation and employment standards.
The lawsuit seeks damages for wrongful dismissal, bad faith conduct, and the infliction of mental distress. It also claims compensation for the loss of income and benefits, as well as punitive damages. The filing was entered in court on December 23, 2025.
A Broader Issue of Workplace Safety and Support
This case highlights critical issues surrounding workplace violence in health-care settings and the systemic support for employees who suffer psychological injuries on the job. Hospitals are high-stress environments, and frontline staff can be exposed to unpredictable violence.
The legal action raises questions about institutional responsibility when employees are traumatized at work. It challenges how employers, particularly in essential public services like health care, manage and support staff through the aftermath of critical incidents. The outcome could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future across Canada's health-care sector.
Neither Seven Oaks General Hospital nor the WRHA have publicly commented on the specifics of the ongoing litigation. The allegations contained in the statement of claim have not yet been proven in court.
