Makibi Timilak death: Former Nunavut nurse calls on coroner to resign

A former Nunavut nurse is calling on the territory's chief coroner to resign, alleging that the investigation into the death of a Cape Dorset baby three years ago was botched.

In April 2012, Makibi Timilak's mother called the local health centre because her baby son was not well. The mother says the nurse on duty refused to see him, telling her instead to give the baby a bath and come in the morning.

Nunavut Chief Coroner Padma Suramala initially attributed Makibi's death to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which affects otherwise healthy infants.

His mother Neevee Akesuk says she doesn't understand that conclusion.

"He just couldn't stop crying," she said. "He wasn't himself. Does that sound like a healthy child?" 

Suramala later signed off on an autopsy report by Ottawa pathologist, Dr. De Nanassy, who concluded that the baby had died of a widespread viral infection in both lungs.

Autopsy results reviewed by second doctor

But in a news release last week, Suramala included a June 2015 letter from a second Ottawa pathologist, Dr Christopher Milroy, who reviewed the original autopsy results and tissue samples. He said he found no evidence of a viral infection, and that the medical history indicated "there was no fever or other evidence the child was unwell." 

He added there was "evidence of bed sharing, which is a known risk for sudden death of an infant."

In the release, Suramala says the cause of death should be classified as "undetermined," and notes that coroners' investigations "are fact-finding procedures and not fault-finding exercises."

But Gwen Slade, a former Nunavut nurse who filed complaints about the skills of the nurse who was on call that night, questions how the chief coroner can link the baby's death to SIDS, which affects otherwise healthy infants, when the baby's mother says he was ill and she sought medical care.

Call for resignation

She is angry that the chief coroner appears to be laying blame on the parents.

"She should be resigning, absolutely," she says.

"These are people's lives and if she can't do what she is expected to do and that is speak for dead, then she needs to step down."

Slade says the second pathologist, Dr. Milroy, has a great reputation but she doubts he was given the full autopsy report.

"What he's saying is his colleague gave an incompetent report."

Slade is calling on Suramala to hold a coroner's inquest to look into Makibi's death. She is also calling for a review of baby deaths attributed to SIDS in Nunavut.

Suramala was unavailable to answer questions about her news release or respond to Slade's allegations.

An independent review of circumstances surrounding the baby's death is currently underway with a report due in the fall.