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Tuberculosis Action Group |
For immediate release
April 28, 2004
Final submissions to
the jury Thursday!
The end of the
inquest into the tuberculosis death of a homeless man, Joseph Tiegesser.
Peter Rosenthal, lawyer for the Tuberculosis Action Group, has called it
"the TB inquest of the century."
Thursday, April 29, 2004 *
9:30 am
Coroner's court, 15
Grosvenor
Finally, the end of the inquest has come three years after a
micro-epidemic hit two homeless shelters. Fifteen men developed active TB,
three men died. Many others got latent TB infection and expert evidence
has pointed out that 10-15% of those will develop active TB in their
lifetime.
The TB outbreak was both socially and economically expensive. Over
$500,000 was spent by the Toronto Department of Public Health. The inquest
was called because it was important to examine not only why Mr. Teigesser
died, but why there was an outbreak and how to prevent such an occurrence
in the future.
The final submissions to the jury will outline the key evidence that was
heard and will make recommendations to prevent TB in the homeless
population. After hearing from the different lawyers representing groups
with standing, the jury will prepare recommendations that will be made
public in the near future.
The Tuberculosis Action Group is calling for a strong recommendation to
end homelessness so that homeless deaths need not occur.
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