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TDRC Media Releases |
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For immediate release
March 24, 2004
Is there something to
hide? In an inquest troubled by disorganization, numerous scheduling interruptions, and a change in crown counsel, members of the Tuberculosis Action Group (TBAG), who initially brought the tuberculosis outbreak and deaths to the attention of the Coroner’s office in 2001, learned today that they will not be allowed to bring forward 9 of their witnesses. Coroner James Edwards had already ruled against a ‘Homeless 101’ walking tour that would have allowed jurors to examine first hand some of the conditions that promote the spread of tuberculosis in homeless shelters and drop-in centres. Today Dr. Edwards, in his decision, has made it almost impossible for the jury to hear about the conditions or appropriate solutions. Proposed witnesses that were rejected include: Cathy Crowe, long-time street nurse and recognized expert on homeless health care and public policy; Kathy Hardill, experienced street nurse and expert on primary health care who worked in the hot zone during the TB outbreak; *note both Crowe and Hardill were part of a contingent that explained the epidemiology of the TB outbreak to the Coroners’ office and called for this inquest. Professor David Hulchanski, Director of the Centre for Urban and Community Studies and recognized expert on the relationship between housing and health; Amber Kellen, from the John Howard Society who would have provided valuable evidence on the movement between the corrections and shelters and the risk posed by TB; Dr. Philip Hebert, an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Bioethics Consultant As Crowe says: “TB is an old disease - a plague. If we are to have third world conditions in our inner city, we will have third world problems. In the 1880s bad air, crowding, malnutrition, bad housing all led to TB outbreaks. Here we go again…..shouldn’t the jury have the opportunity to see and hear about the current situation from experts – not just ones paid by the City.” NOTE: the inquest resumes March 25 at 9:30 with witnesses called by Aboriginal Legal Services.
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