Spokane, Wash. (Gray News) – Fifteen nurses at Providence Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital have been terminated following the suicide of 12‑year‑old Sarah Niyimbona, who died after jumping from a hospital parking garage

Spokane, Wash. (Gray News) – Fifteen nurses at Providence Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital have been terminated following the suicide of 12‑year‑old Sarah Niyimbona, who died after jumping from a hospital parking garage—despite having been under advisement for 24‑hour supervision  .

Beginning in late 2024, Sarah had multiple admissions to Sacred Heart’s emergency department due to repeated suicide attempts. She was being monitored with both a health care “sitter” and video surveillance, until those critical safeguards were allegedly removed—according to a filed lawsuit—prior to April 13  .

On the night of April 13, the lawsuit asserts, the 24‑hour sitter was withdrawn and video monitoring was disabled. As a result, Sarah was able to leave her pediatric unit undetected, walk roughly a quarter mile to a parking structure, ascend to the fourth floor, and tragically jump, sustaining catastrophic injuries. She passed away two hours later in the hospital’s emergency unit  .

Following the incident, Providence Sacred Heart fired 15 nurses and disciplined another. The institution cited concerns over possible HIPAA violations—specifically, that some nurses accessed Sarah’s medical records despite not being directly involved in her care  . In contrast, the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) asserts these firings constitute retaliation, suggesting the nurses were targeted for speaking about the incident in media outlets  . The union has filed a grievance, a process that could be prolonged  .

Meanwhile, the Washington Department of Health launched an investigation after being notified of the death by InvestigateWest’s reporting. The department cited circumstances of immediate jeopardy, indicating severe non‑compliance that placed patients at risk of serious harm or death. In response, Providence submitted a safety plan to address the cited deficiencies  .

Community leaders, legislators, and the hospital’s own pediatric staff have voiced deep concerns following the incident. Many point to the closure of the hospital’s Psychiatric Center for Children and Adolescents in September—just six months earlier—as a key factor. That unit had features like locked double‑doors and staff with specialized training—protective measures absent in the general pediatric wing where Sarah was being housed  .

Spokane city leaders and state lawmakers have demanded greater transparency. As Spokane City Councilmember Lili Navarrete put it:

“There’s HIPAA and then there are just plain questions … They need to answer for their wrongdoing.” 

State Senator Marcus Riccelli called the tragedy a “failure of the system” and lamented that such an outcome might have been avoided had the psychiatric unit remained open  .

Under Washington state law, the hospital must conduct a root cause analysis of any patient suicide and submit findings to the Department of Health’s non‑regulatory adverse events division; however, that report is not made public. Public access will be possible to findings by the regulatory team once the investigation concludes  .

Summary of Key Points:

• Incident Overview: 12‑year‑old Sarah Niyimbona died by suicide on April 13 after leaving her monitored room and jumping from the fourth floor of a parking garage.
• Safety Failures: According to the lawsuit, vital safety measures—including a sitter, video monitoring, and door alarms—were removed prior to the incident, and supervision failed.
• Employment Repercussions: Fifteen nurses were fired and another disciplined; the hospital cited privacy violations, while the union claims retaliation for speaking out.
• Regulatory Response: The Washington Department of Health investigated, declaring an immediate jeopardy situation and prompting a hospital safety plan.
• Systemic Concerns: The recent psychiatric unit closure, lack of staff training, and unsecured pediatric environment have been flagged as systemic failures.
• Community Demand: Officials and advocates are demanding clarity, accountability, and better care systems to prevent future tragedies.

Let me know if you’d like follow‑up content—such as insights into the legal developments, status of investigations, statements from the hospital, or regional mental health infrastructure in Eastern Washington in the wake of this incident.

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