An inquest has determined that Codie Lee Black drowned in a hospital bath, raising serious concerns about her care and safety.
Carlisle: So, there’s been a really sad story about a young woman named Codie Lee Black. She passed away in a hospital bath back in January 2023 while under mental health care. It’s just heartbreaking.
Codie was only 18. She had a loving, caring, and supportive family. Her mental health challenges began after she was assaulted by a friend’s grandfather, a traumatic experience that had a lasting impact on her.
During the inquest, it came out that she was supposed to be monitored closely, but somehow, she was left alone in the bath. The staff were supposed to check on her every ten minutes, but that didn’t happen. It’s really concerning.
The coroner, Ms. Margaret Taylor, pointed out that there were several failures in the care Codie received. She mentioned that the decision to let Codie take a bath was not safe, especially given her history.
Codie had been in and out of mental health services for years, and it seemed like she was struggling a lot. Just days before her death, she had been admitted to the hospital after an overdose. It’s just so tragic that things ended this way.
When they found her, she was submerged in the bath, and despite efforts to revive her, she was pronounced dead. The coroner concluded that it was a case of misadventure, not suicide, which is a relief in a way, but it doesn’t change the fact that she’s gone.
It’s also frustrating to hear that the trust didn’t handle the situation well after her death. There were delays in gathering evidence, which made it harder for her family to understand what happened. They deserve answers.
After all this, the trust has promised to make changes to prevent this from happening again. It’s a small comfort, but it’s something. Codie’s story is a reminder of how important it is to take care of those who are vulnerable.
