Free legal help for suicidebereaved families called for
DUNEDIN suicide prevention campaigner Corinda Taylor has called on the Government to provide free legal representation for all suicidebereaved families.
‘‘It is time to level the playing field at investigations, Health and Disability Commissioner inquiries, inquests and Human Rights Review Tribunal proceedings,’’ Mrs Taylor said.
‘‘Bereaved families must be granted automatic nonmeanstested funding for legal representation.’’
The founder of the Life Matters suicide prevention trust this week launched a petition which called on Justice Minister Andrew Little to introduce fair legal funding for bereaved families.
The issue is personal as well as professional for Mrs Taylor.
Her son, Ross, died six years ago but her family is still awaiting an inquest to be held to confirm his death by suicide.
Significant legal proceedings, including an HDC inquiry, have already taken place in to Ross Taylor’s death, and an HRRT case will follow after the inquest has been completed.
‘‘Our family is facing a five to seven working day inquest into Ross’s cause of death and the circumstances leading up to it,’’ Mrs Taylor said.
‘‘Legal fees for this alone would cripple most families.’’
Documentation for the court needed to be done to a professional standard and that was something few families could achieve without the help of a lawyer, Mrs Taylor said.
‘‘Should we decide to represent ourselves we would most certainly be at a disadvantage and most likely lose our case as we face the Southern District Health Board and the psychiatrist’s barristers, who are well skilled in this area.’’
Mrs Taylor said doctors and DHBs had the funds to access the best legal teams and experts, while not all families qualified for legal aid.
All familes should have funding available for professional help with complex proceedings at at time when they were at their most vulnerable, she said.
‘‘Without funded representation, families are denied their voice and meaningful participation in the processes of investigation, learning and accountability.
‘‘This is not what justice looks like.’’