Call for more expert testimony delays inquiry into girl’s death by months
Further questions arise about sleep aid given to child, 8
Questions about the sleep aid that caused Nevaeh Michaud’s 2014 death mean additional experts are being called to testify, delaying her public fatality inquiry until this fall.
Eight-year-old Nevaeh died from an overdose of chloral hydrate while living in an Edmonton group home.
Her last day before her death was described as typical at the inquiry. Nevaeh had a visit with her mother. She watched the movie Mulan, played and ate macaroni and veggie soup for dinner. Nevaeh was tired, however, and one of her caretakers asked to administer her nightly dose of chloral hydrate early.
Earlier, a medical examiner said Nevaeh’s death was caused either by a single overdose or a build-up of the drug in her system.
The contents of a prescription issued on Dec. 17, 2013, were deemed to have been properly accounted for. What became of a bottle four times the size that was prescribed on Dec. 27, 2013, is uncertain, bringing questions of dosage and concentration to the forefront of the inquiry.
Two group home workers testified they used syringes to measure the drug, One of them said in her opinion it would be hard to measure five millilitres in a cup, especially if doing so on an uneven surface.
An overnight caregiver described measuring the sleep aid — prescribed for up to 10 ml overnight as needed — in a measuring cap.
Jill Porter investigated group home provider Mariam’s Footsteps in a review on behalf of Human Services Department, now the Ministry of Children’s Services.
Porter said Friday in her view, as long as measurements are consistent, it’s fine, though using different measuring methods could be a cause for concern.
Despite Nevaeh’s medical issues, Porter testified group home workers had no special training on how to deal with the girl.
Porter said the measurement, delivery and communications surrounding the drug were factors that needed to be considered in what she referred to as a preventable death.
A toxicologist, pharmacologist and police detective are expected to be the final three witnesses called in the inquiry.
They will testify over two days this fall.
Despite Nevaeh’s medical issues, group home workers had no special training on how to deal with her, ministry official testified.