No Inquest Into Deaths at Oaklands Regional Centre

There will be no inquest into the deaths of the residents of Oaklands Regional Centre, including that of Randy Mogridge as reported in the Saturday May 21 Hamilton Spectator.

The Coroner's office did give recommendations. They include (from the Spec)

"1) Reviewing the qualifications of staff and providing them with ongoing education.

2) A collaboration between Oaklands and Halton Health Services to develop an educational program for hospital staff.

3) A review of processes for administering medicine

4) Developing a patient profile for each resident and providing staff with a better understanding of pica, a condition where a person will ingest anything, often leading to gastrointestinal blockages

5) The Ministry of Community and Social Services work with the Ministry of Health to increase the number of health-care professional able to provide care to developmentally challenged adults."

This isn't good enough. 10 individuals died at Oakland Regional Centre. Correction, 7 died at Walkerton and 100's continue on with illnesses. An inquiry was called in the case of Walkerton. No inquiry was called for severely mentally disabled Canadian citizens who had the right to life and were supposed to be protected equally under law. Hundreds more will surely die because of the effects of being treated cruelly and unusally. Such is the state of attitude of health care workers supported by the Ministry of Health towards the mentally ill.

The families of these individuals should seek legal redress and demand a criminal negligence investigation considering the recommendations that were given.

It's nothing less than justice denied, rights denied and makes me wonder, once again about why I continue to stay in this country.

I truly hope Gloria Mogridge commences legal action against the Coroner's office and both Ministries. I hope she also commences a Charter challenge against all three as well. At least request the Ontario Human Rights Commission to make their own inquiry.

Mrs. Mogridge, know that I am here to support you as well as others in this country who demand justice and a just society. If anyone is able to copy this report and send to Ms. Mogridge, I'm sure her lawyer would find it to come in handy to understand the attitudes of the individuals who administer the health professions.

The public interest is being ignored as evidenced from this report and the Ministry of Health and its Minister, George Smitherman, is ignoring it. Ms. Mogridge, for what it is worth, that report can be used as evidence because it was commissioned by the Ministry of Health in 2000.

My copy is marked on purpose but if anyone working on behalf of the Mogridge's would like a clean copy, please contact me at habamusrodentum@yahoo.com and I can make arrangements to get you one if it is believed it could be used in a court of law.