Canada - Ezekiel Stephan, 19 mos, dies of meningitis, 13 March 2012

[katydid23]

So little press about this ongoing case. I can't find any updates...

 

[musicaljoke]

So little press about this ongoing case. I can't find any updates...

The trial was taking a break, but resumes July 9th with the defense calling its next witness. Crown witness Dr. Adeagbo is also expected to return July 10-12 after his testimony had to be cut short earlier in the trial.

 

[YESorNO]

Stephan trial resuming today

JULY 9, 2019

"The trial for the former southern Alberta parents charged with failing to provide their toddler with the necessaries of life is set to resume today in a Lethbridge courtroom.

David and Collet Stephan are expected to call their next witness as they continue presenting their case before Justice Terry Clackson in Lethbridge Court of Queen’s Bench....

Following today’s testimony by a defence witness, Crown witness Dr. Bamidele Adeagbo, who was medical examiner in 2012, is expected to return to the stand starting Wednesday. Adeagbo’s testimony last month had to be adjourned after David Stephan’s cross-examination went longer than expected.

The Stephans claim Adeagbo used clinically unapproved test results to support a diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.

They maintain their child’s symptoms, including inflammation around the brain, could have been caused by the toddler’s lack of oxygen between the time he was picked up by the ambulance and his arrival in Calgary several hours later.

The trial is not expected to conclude until the end of the month."

Stephan trial resuming today

 

[musicaljoke]

It doesn't seem as though much, if any, meaningful evidence was brought forward by the defense today. If anything, it seems to highlight the fact that the medical system was desparate to get this very sick small child from home to the children's hospital in Calgary.

LETHBRIDGE, AB – David and Collet Stephan were back in court Tuesday and called two witnesses who both appeared via video separately.

Anthony (Tony) Gallagher works for Referral, Access, Advice, Placement, Information & Destination (RAAPID), a physician-to-physician consulting firm that works with Alberta Health Service (AHS) to find the appropriate specialists for specific cases.

Gallagher testified that he alerted the Alberta Children’s Hospital (ACH) in Calgary that Ezekiel would be coming in for treatment, but could not remember if he gave a “heads up” call to Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge ahead of time to let them know that the child may need to stop for care in Lethbridge on the way from Cardston to Calgary.

Doing so, he told court, is a standard practice, but due to this incident happening more than seven years ago, it was too vague in his mind. The documented records from a potential call to Lethbridge was not available. (more at link)

https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2019/...ar-over-admissible-evidence-in-stephan-trial/

 

[musicaljoke]

Global News has a slightly different report of the trial today. David and Collet Stephan’s retrial resumes in Lethbridge

 

[MsFacetious]

Medical examiner tells David and Collet Stephan’s retrial he considered everything in autopsy

 

[katydid23]

Stephan trial resuming today

JULY 9, 2019

"The trial for the former southern Alberta parents charged with failing to provide their toddler with the necessaries of life is set to resume today in a Lethbridge courtroom.

David and Collet Stephan are expected to call their next witness as they continue presenting their case before Justice Terry Clackson in Lethbridge Court of Queen’s Bench....

Following today’s testimony by a defence witness, Crown witness Dr. Bamidele Adeagbo, who was medical examiner in 2012, is expected to return to the stand starting Wednesday. Adeagbo’s testimony last month had to be adjourned after David Stephan’s cross-examination went longer than expected.

The Stephans claim Adeagbo used clinically unapproved test results to support a diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.

They maintain their child’s symptoms, including inflammation around the brain, could have been caused by the toddler’s lack of oxygen between the time he was picked up by the ambulance and his arrival in Calgary several hours later.

The trial is not expected to conclude until the end of the month."

Stephan trial resuming today

"The Stephans claim Adeagbo used clinically unapproved test results to support a diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.

They maintain their child’s symptoms, including inflammation around the brain, could have been caused by the toddler’s lack of oxygen between the time he was picked up by the ambulance and his arrival in Calgary several hours later."

This^^ does not seem like a credible defense argument. There is no reason that an 18 month old should NEED an oxygen tank. And saying that the lack of an oxygen supply for the ambulance ride
was the reason for his brain inflammation, instead of the Bacterial Meningitis makes no sense.

If he didn't have a critical illness like meningitis, then he wouldn't have needed the supplemental oxygen.

Maybe he would have been better off if the ambulance had the right hose connection for the oxygen, but it still comes back to the fact that the parents waited 3 weeks to seek medical intervention for their ailing toddler. JMO

 

[musicaljoke]

This^^ does not seem like a credible defense argument. There is no reason that an 18 month old should NEED an oxygen tank. And saying that the lack of an oxygen supply for the ambulance ride
was the reason for his brain inflammation, instead of the Bacterial Meningitis makes no sense.

If he didn't have a critical illness like meningitis, then he wouldn't have needed the supplemental oxygen.

Maybe he would have been better off if the ambulance had the right hose connection for the oxygen, but it still comes back to the fact that the parents waited 3 weeks to seek medical intervention for their ailing toddler. JMO

Yes, it's a bizarre defense. The child was not fitted with a pediatric mask for O2 for the first nine minutes while in the ambulance.

Stephan is basically confirming that he believes medical intervention would have saved his son's life, which is the very thing that forms the basis of his criminal charges. Odd that in the eleventh hour he finally realised that the need for medical care was so critical. Too bad he didn't figure that out when he was treating his very sick son with garlic and peppers.

What a horrible man.
Lack of oxygen didn’t cause Ezekiel Stephan’s death: medical examiner

 

[YESorNO]

Medical examiner tells David and Collet Stephan’s retrial he considered everything in autopsy (with clip)

July 10, 2019

"A medical examiner who did the autopsy on 18-month-old Ezekiel Stephan spent a third full day on the stand in the retrial of David and Collet Stephan Wednesday....

Earlier in the retrial, Dr. Bamidele Adeagbo testified via video that it was clear the child had died from bacterial meningitis and a lung infection.

During cross-examination Wednesday, David Stephan, acting as his own lawyer, suggested the pathologist didn’t explore other possibilities that may have led to Ezekiel’s state.

Stephan asked Adeagbo if he took into account whether Ezekiel had hyponatremia, which occurs when there’s low sodium concentration in the blood.

Adeagbo responded that when he reviewed the first available medical record on this information, the child’s “sodium was totally fine.”

Stephan, referring to the medical record, noted that his sodium level was on the lower end of the normal range. Something that, he said, should have been cause for concern for the medical examiner.

Adeagbo responded that in his role as medical examiner, he had “concern about everything.”.

When Adeagbo did that, he said he noticed that Ezekiel’s potassium was increasing as well.

Adeagbo told court that this led him to determine the child’s sodium level was at that number not because of hyponatremia, but because Ezekiel was dead — he just hadn’t been officially pronounced at that time...."

Medical examiner tells David and Collet Stephan’s retrial he considered everything in autopsy

 

[musicaljoke]

Last month Adeagbo, who is now a pathologist in Indiana, testified by video there was nothing to indicate a lack of oxygen had anything to do with Ezekiel’s death, and he maintained the child died of bacterial meningitis and a lung infection.

Adeagbo is testifying in a voir dire hearing – a mini trial within a trial – to determine his qualifications to provide expert evidence in the trial. If so qualified, his evidence will be admitted into the trial proper.

He is expected to be on the stand until Friday, then the trial will be adjourned until July 25 when former Alberta chief medical examiner Anny Sauvageau is scheduled to testify for two days.

Medical examiner returns to stand at Stephans' retrial

 

[YESorNO]

Coroner who investigated Ezekiel Stephan’s death becomes visibly frustrated in court

Jul 11, 2019

"LETHBRIDGE, AB – Dr. Bamidele Adeagbo appeared in the Lethbridge court house via video Thursday for the second of his three-day schedule.

He was the coroner who looked into 19-month-old Ezekiel Stephan’s death after he arrived at the Alberta Children’s Hospital in March of 2012.

Dr. Adeabgo was questioned by David Stephan, Ezekiel’s father. Stephan asked if factors such as Ezekiel’s blood pressure and oxygen levels were taken into consideration when coming to the diagnosis that he died of bacterial meningitis.

The doctor affirmed that medical professionals, as they always do, considered every possible factor before arriving at their conclusion.

In trying to establish whether oxygen depravation can lead to brain damage, Stephan asked if ensuring that a good flow of oxygen to the brain is a good thing. Contrary to what Ezekiel’s parents believed, Dr. Adeagbo says the lack of oxygen had nothing to do with the child’s death.

Stephan questioned if anti-inflammatory herbal medications can reverse the tide on conditions like hyponatremia and septicemia, but Dr. Adeagbo replied that, while it can help to prevent further inflammation in a case like this, it cannot undo damage that has already been caused.

After questioning carried on for some time, Dr. Adeagbo stood up from his chair and became visually frustrated with the court proceedings.

“This is not magic…this is medicine.”

With his voice rising and his tone conveying agitation, Dr. Adeagbo told court that, as the doctors were trying to resuscitate the child, it was “very apparent” that he was showing no vital signs. His blood pressure continually dropped as more readings were conducted.

While they were eventually able to temporarily increase Ezekiel’s blood pressure, he said it was already too late at that point.

Dr. Adeagbo paced around his video conference room and assured that the medical professionals did everything they could to save him.

Justice Terry Clackson admitted in court Thursday that he too was becoming frustrated by this particular trial and the way it has been carried out. He was seen numerous times during the questioning placing his head in his hands.

Dr. Adeagbo is scheduled to be back in court Friday."

https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2019/...ns-death-becomes-visibly-frustrated-in-court/

 

[MsFacetious]

I totally agree! I cannot IMAGINE doing an autopsy on a BABY who's dead because of his PARENTS.... and then having one of those parents be the ONE WHO QUESTIONS YOU AT TRIAL?!

I was blown away when I read that article yesterday. I thought the coroner did a great job of basically saying "yeah, his sodium levels were low because he was dead you incompetent idiot" without saying that.

 

[Snoopster]

You know, it's one thing if someone is naive, and is arguing from a place of ignorance, but it's another if it's from a place of willful blindness AND YOU CAUSED THE DEATH OF YOUR CHILD while trying to blame others.
I have absolutely no compassion for this couple anymore. (Not that I had a lot to begin with, but I was trying.)

 

[musicaljoke]

You know, it's one thing if someone is naive, and is arguing from a place of ignorance, but it's another if it's from a place of willful blindness AND YOU CAUSED THE DEATH OF YOUR CHILD while trying to blame others.
I have absolutely no compassion for this couple anymore. (Not that I had a lot to begin with, but I was trying.)

I'm with you. Dr. Adeagbo has testified for four days. He must be thinking about the medical work that he could be doing that has been put on hold for him to attend this circus.

 

[MsFacetious]

You know, it's one thing if someone is naive, and is arguing from a place of ignorance, but it's another if it's from a place of willful blindness AND YOU CAUSED THE DEATH OF YOUR CHILD while trying to blame others.
I have absolutely no compassion for this couple anymore. (Not that I had a lot to begin with, but I was trying.)

Yes. Not only that but when you get a slap on the hand you appeal it! Instead of just focusing on your living children you screw up their lives more with this circus.

I'm sorry but to be up there discussing your baby's autopsy in detail like that? It's not clinical. It's cold, heartless and detached.

To be able to discuss it that way he had to study it. I bet he's looked at the pictures.

This isn't a doctor who lost his child in an accident! There is something deeply wrong with this man.

I wouldn't be surprised if that's what is upsetting to this actual doctor. That he feels like he was more impacted by this child's death than his own father.

 

[musicaljoke]

The maximum penalty for failure to provide the necessities of life is 5yrs. That doesn't seem much for failure that leads to death.

Did he read the autopsy reports with a sense of introspection, looking for the possibility, however remote he believed that could be, that his treatment contributed to his son's death? It doesn't seem so.

I hope this man gets a sentence that is long enough to destroy his credibility as a purveyer of snake oil. I wonder if he still has a following of supporters.

 

[MsFacetious]

Search the case on twitter. That'll answer your question and make you question humanity.

 

[katydid23]

David and Collet Stephan’s retrial resumes in Lethbridge

David and Collet Stephan’s retrial resumes in Lethbridge

The retrial for David and Collet Stephan resumed in Lethbridge on Tuesday after a week-long break. Much of the testimony centred around missing records and a lack of symptoms showing meningitis. Jasmine Bala reports.



The second witness was Sarah Saleh, an information specialist with the Poison & Drug Information Service (PADIS).

Saleh was consulted through RAAPID by a doctor at the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary after Ezekiel arrived at the hospital.

In a phone call recording played for the court, the doctor told Saleh there was nothing in Ezekiel’s brain scans specifically showing meningitis and that it was possible the swelling and fluid on his brain may have been caused by toxins in herbal medication.

Saleh testified she was asked to arrange for a toxicologist to assess the toddler in person to determine the sequence of events leading to his medical state.

David Stephan, acting as his own lawyer, asked Saleh whether PADIS has any infectious disease doctors on staff. She responded that they do not.

However, Saleh wasn’t the only person the doctor spoke to from PADIS, as the doctor had corresponded with one of her colleagues earlier.

During cross-examination, Crown prosecutor Britta Kristensen said the second phone call did not show the full picture. But when Kristensen tried to enter the first phone call recording between the doctor and Saleh’s colleague into evidence, she was denied.

 

[katydid23]

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Here is the defendant's version of the most recent trial summary.

 

[YESorNO]

Stephan trial likely to stretch into August

JULY 24, 2019.

"A Lethbridge trial that was supposed to conclude in June but had to be extended into July, now isn’t expected to wrap up until the end of August.

The high-profile trial for David and Collet Stephan, who were charged more than six years ago with failing to provide the necessaries of life to their 18-month-old toddler in 2012, had to be adjourned July 12 after defence was, for the second time, unable to finish questioning Crown witness Dr. Bamidele Adeagbo in the allotted time.

The former Alberta medical examiner is now scheduled to continue his voir dire evidence July 29 and 30 in Lethbridge Court of Queen’s Bench, followed by defence and Crown arguments on Aug. 7 whether to allow his evidence into the trial proper. Former chief medical examiner Dr. Anny Sauvageau is expected to provide rebuttal evidence for defence beginning Aug. 26, followed by closing arguments on the trial before the week’s end.

The matter, which some observers have dubbed the trial that will never end, will likely be adjourned to another date for a verdict, followed by sentencing arguments and sentencing, which may also be adjourned to another date...."

Stephan trial likely to stretch into August