Allegation centres on missed subarachnoid haemorrhage after repeated ER visits
A Greater Sudbury resident has launched a civil suit against Health Sciences North and two of its physicians, alleging a missed diagnosis in 2025 left her with severe and permanent brain injuries.
The plaintiff, Allison Currie, 47, says she went to the HSN emergency department twice in April 2025 for intense headaches and underwent at least two CT scans. According to the statement of claim, Currie was initially discharged with a diagnosis described as a post-coital headache. Her condition later deteriorated and she was airlifted to Toronto, where she required emergency brain surgery for a subarachnoid haemorrhage.
The civil action names Health Sciences North as well as two HSN physicians: Dr. Christopher Bourdon, identified in the claim as an emergency-room physician, and Dr. Evan Roberts, identified as a diagnostic radiologist. Currie seeks $6 million in damages and legal costs. Her daughter, Morgan, is also named as a plaintiff and is pursuing an additional $500,000.
"The hospital and the two physicians named in the lawsuit all deny any wrongdoing."
Local consequences and questions for regional care
The allegations raise questions for Sudbury residents about emergency-department processes and the interpretation of diagnostic imaging when patients present with severe headaches. Health Sciences North serves as the major referral hospital for northeastern Ontario; doubts about timely recognition of life-threatening conditions can reverberate across the region, affecting confidence among patients and families who rely on the hospital for urgent care.
- Timing: The events described in the statement of claim occurred in April 2025.
- Medical issue: Subarachnoid haemorrhage — a form of bleeding in the brain that can be fatal or cause long-term neurological damage if not treated promptly.
- Legal action: More than $6 million sought by Currie; a further $500,000 sought by her daughter.
What the filing says and what remains to be proven
The statement of claim alleges that Currie suffered "significant physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities" as a result of the delayed or missed diagnosis. Civil litigation will require the court to consider whether the standard of care was met by emergency staff and by the radiological interpretation of imaging studies carried out at HSN.
Medical-legal disputes of this nature typically hinge on expert opinions about clinical decision-making, the adequacy of documentation, and whether imaging was performed and reported appropriately. The defendants — the hospital and the two physicians named — have publicly denied liability, and those denials will form the starting point for the hospital's defence in court.
| Party | Role | Amount sought |
|---|---|---|
| Allison Currie | Primary plaintiff | $6,000,000 |
| Morgan (daughter) | Co-plaintiff | $500,000 |
| Health Sciences North | Defendant (hospital) | — |
| Dr. Christopher Bourdon | Defendant (ER physician) | — |
| Dr. Evan Roberts | Defendant (radiologist) | — |
For Sudbury residents, the case underscores broader concerns about access to specialist neuroscience care close to home. While patients with complex neurological emergencies are often transferred to larger centres such as Toronto for neurosurgical intervention, early recognition and triage decisions made in regional emergency departments are critical to outcomes.
Looking ahead
The suit was reported publicly on Aug. 21, 2026. As the matter proceeds through the courts, it may prompt internal review at the hospital and could inform regional discussions about emergency-department protocols, radiology reporting standards and post-discharge follow-up for patients with severe headache complaints.
Until the litigation is resolved, the hospital's denials of wrongdoing remain its formal position. The legal process will determine whether the allegations are substantiated and what, if any, remedies are appropriate.
WE NEWS will continue to monitor the case and report on filings, responses from the hospital and any implications for patient care across northeastern Ontario.
