Retired chief to review performance of coroner’s office
REGINA In the wake of criticism by families and a legal judgment against the province’s chief forensic pathologist, the government has appointed a former police chief to lead a sweeping review of Saskatchewan’s Office of the Chief Coroner.
Justice Minister Don Morgan announced Wednesday that retired Saskatoon police chief Clive Weighill will examine the “mandate and performance of the coroner’s service and offer recommendations.”
The wide-ranging review will also include an examination of the processes and adequacy of coroner investigations; adequacy of support elements such as laboratory services, transfer services and funeral home services; staff roles and responsibilities; the coroner inquest model, including structure and inquest recommendations; a high-level comparison of coroner and medical examiner models and best practices; the relationships with police, prosecutions and health regions; and communications practices and sharing information with the public.
Weighill, who will present his final report and recommendations to the minister by July 1, 2018, said he won’t look at specific cases. But he will review how the office functions and is open to hearing from anyone with concerns over the coroner’s office. His recommendations will be public.
Earlier this month, a Regina jury awarded $5 million to a man whose unsuccessful bid to become a forensic pathologist for the province sparked a lawsuit against the Saskatchewan government and its chief forensic pathologist Dr. Shaun Ladham, who oversees the coroner’s office.
In launching the suit, Jeffrey Racette claimed not only poor treatment by Ladham during a 2013 assessment period, but alleged the doctor went so far as to sabotage Racette’s chances of being hired for the post. The jury found the Office of the Chief Coroner and Ladham, as lead assessor, failed to prepare and provide the required written assessment on Racette, and also that the defendants breached the assessment agreement and committed breach of contract.
The coroner’s office was also criticized by two families. The families of Nadine Machiskinic, who fell to her death down a hotel laundry chute, and of Haven Dubois, a 14-year-old boy who drowned in a shallow creek, questioned findings that ruled both Regina deaths were accidental.
Asked about that criticism, Weighill said: “In this day and age, whenever you do a review of anywhere, you’re always looking at if there are any systemic issues, whether that be race, gender, religion.”