Opioid death data collection
Ontario’s Death Investigation System continues to be an integral part of informing Ontario’s Opioid Strategy and is a key contributor to informing the Federal strategy. The data from our investigations continues to be uploaded into the provincial Opioid Tracker database hosted by Public Health Ontario which is providing Ontario communities timely morbidity and mortality data regarding opioids. This is vital information for our health partners to develop intervention and prevention actions and programs.
Developing a New Information Technology System: QuinC
Work is progressing on the new information technology system QuinC. The vendor, Run Straight, is working with the OCC project team in developing and building the new system. We have had great input from coroners and other subject matter experts that is helping in developing our first prototype for demo purposes this fall.
Our goal is to have an intuitive system that will assist investigating coroners and improve our data management capacity acting as the vehicle for realizing a data-driven approach to public safety. While it is a very large and complex undertaking, we are progressing well to our delivery target of 2019.
Expert Panel on the Deaths of Children and Youth in Residential Placements:
In the first six months of 2017, five young people died in residential placements. All were in the care of a children’s aid society or Indigenous child wellbeing society and struggled with mental wellbeing challenges. The public, stakeholders and the OCC believed that further exploration was required to determine whether this could be representative of a tragic spike in deaths or part of a trend. The OCC analyzed the data available and found that between January 1, 2014 and July 31, 2017, 12 young people died in treatment placements while in the care of a children’s aid society or Indigenous child wellbeing society.
To inform the investigation of the deaths and provide an opportunity for recommendations to prevent further deaths, the OCC established the Expert Panel on the Deaths of Children and Youth in Residential Placements. This comprehensive review is complete and the panel’s report was released to stakeholders (and public upon request) on September 25. The report, which contained five recommendations to provincial and federal ministries, has been posted on our ministry’s website.
OFPS HIGHLIGHTS
Child injury interpretation committee
In 2017, the OFPS formed a new committee to provide enhanced peer review of criminally suspicious pediatric deaths. Membership includes forensic pathologists from across Ontario, particularly those with special interest in pediatric deaths, as well as pediatricians from the SickKids SCAN (Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect) team, neuropathologists, cardiovascular pathologists, and forensic pathologists from other provinces. The peer review takes place before the autopsy report is released to provide a broad spectrum of specialist opinions for each case to ensure the quality of these challenging death investigations.
Retirement of Dr. Toby Rose, Deputy Chief Forensic Pathologist
Dr. Toby H. Rose retired from the position of Deputy Chief Forensic Pathologist in June 2018. Dr. Rose has been a full-time forensic pathologist since 1998. She was the Medical Director of the Provincial Forensic Pathology Unit from 2009 to 2011, and has been the Deputy Chief Forensic Pathologist since 2011. Before she began working as a forensic pathologist, she was a staff pathologist at Women’s College Hospital from 1984 to 1998.
As the first Deputy Chief Forensic Pathologist of the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, Dr. Rose was a driving force behind the systemic improvements to forensic pathology after the Goudge Inquiry into Pediatric Forensic Pathology. She was integral in establishing the first accredited Canadian residency training program in forensic pathology at the University of Toronto as well as in training all residents through U of T’s partnership with the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service. She has also contributed to raising professional standards in developing countries by teaching international forensic physicians, and has trained and mentored U of T medical students and Anatomical Pathology residents, exposing them to a career path in Forensic Pathology.
Toby is an inspired teacher, mentor and advocate of medical trainees at all levels of medical education. She is an excellent role model for women as medical subspecialists. We are pleased that she continues to work part-time at the PFPU.
Dr. Kristopher Cunningham succeeded Dr. Rose as the new Deputy Chief Forensic Pathologist in May 2018. In September, an additional Deputy Chief Forensic Pathologist position was created to increase capacity for casework, quality management, research and teaching.
Nodding Syndrome
In 2017, Dr. Pollanen travelled to Kitgum, Uganda to examine living patients suffering from Nodding Syndrome, a little-understood, endemic neurologic disorder of young people in East Africa. This visit inspired a research initiative with the Oregon Health and Science University into the pathological basis of this disease. An initial publication has resulted outlining a previously unknown pathological mechanism for this disorder (TAUopathy). This is an breakthrough that demonstrates the application of forensic science to global health problems. This important work continues with the generous support of the G. Raymond Chang Foundation.