A Smiths Falls woman with terminal cancer says she also didn’t receive proper medical care at the Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre.
Tina Jahn has stage four breast cancer that’s spread to her bones, as well as a mental illness.
She said she was sometimes denied her daily cancer pill while in an isolation cell, as well as not given water and being forced to sleep on the floor.
“They removed my mattress entirely for three days,” she said. “When I was so thirsty . . . I did resort to whatever I could find, which was the toilet on one occasion.”
Her story comes a few days after Julie Bilotta came forward with how guards at the same prison ignored her calls for help after she went into labour, only giving her help after her baby started to emerge.
Jahn’s family said they hope these stories will highlight the problems in the corrections system for women with health issues, be they physical or mental.
“My goal is to reach the public and let them know this is going on in the jail,” said Angelique Jahn.
A claim has been filed with the human rights tribunal by Jahn’s family over her treatment.
“It’s instilled a fear in me now, I’m afraid . . . I go around scared to ever have to go back there,” Tina Jahn said. “I don’t wish that on anyone, especially people who are sick.”
With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Joanne Schnurr
