You may remember the tragic case of a young woman from Quebec named Amélie Champagne. She took her own life in 2022, after battling Lyme disease for years.

The case gained international attention after her father, a prominent Canadian businessman, shared the news on LinkedIn.

At that time, Quebec’s coroner ordered a public inquiry into Amélie’s death. Now, that process is over and coroner Julie-Kim Godin has issued 19 recommendations to Quebec’s Health Ministry and healthcare professionals.

“Her story sadly illustrates the phenomenon of revolving doors in Quebec’s psychiatric emergency departments, and the undesirable effects that ensue,” Godin wrote in the report.

Amélie’s short stay in a psychiatric hospital and her death followed what her father described as years of bouncing around from one doctor to the next, hoping to receive proper care for Lyme disease.

Godin’s report states this “period of medical wandering” contributed to Amélie’s distress.

But after the public inquiry, Godin concluded that Amélie’s story is not an isolated case. She said it has many similarities with those of other people with a possible or confirmed diagnosis of Lyme disease or persistent symptoms.

Godin also asked the Health Ministry to “expand and harmonize” admission criteria for specialized clinics so that patients with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of Lyme disease could get help quickly.

Click here to read more about the coroner’s report.