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Father wants closure in case of son’s death

Patrick Chapin wants closure on the death of his 14-year-old son Wesley. Wesley died in his sleep on Dec. 19, 2009 and Chapin has disputed the cause of death as stated by the coroner’s office.
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Patrick Chapin. (Jodi Lundmark, tbnewswatch.com)
Patrick Chapin wants closure on the death of his 14-year-old son Wesley.

Wesley died in his sleep on Dec. 19, 2009 and Chapin has disputed the cause of death as stated by the coroner’s office.

An investigator with the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario told the Thunder Bay man via email his complaint will be the first case reviewed by the Death Investigation Oversight Council. Tbnewswatch.com could not independently confirm this.

The DIOC is an independent advisory agency that will oversee the work of Ontario’s coroners and forensic pathologists and review complaints regarding death investigations. It was created based on recommendations made in the Goudge Inquiry, which examined pediatric forensic pathology in the province.

Chapin believes his son died because of complications from epilepsy, and not a rare heart condition as he was told by health officials.

He has questions about the coroner’s investigation process and hopes the DIOC can provide the housecleaning he feels the death investigation needs.

“I’m very, very concerned about other children,” he said. “I can’t stand by.”

The DIOC was announced by the provincial government in Dec. 2010 and Chapin said it’s really flown in under the radar.

“I think parents, family members should know they have some recourse now,” he said.

“There’s been an agency created – the chief coroner is not the end-all in death investigations.”

It was not confirmed if the DIOC is specifically investigating Chapin’s case. However, a spokesman from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services said due to privacy legislation, the council is unable to comment on the review of any complaint.






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