In the closing arguments of the inquest regarding the deaths of five individuals in Constance Lake First Nation due to a fungal lung disease outbreak, the legal representative of the first deceased person advocated for considering the manner of death as undetermined. Luke Moore’s family lawyer, Emily Hill, acknowledged the coroner’s determination that Moore succumbed to acute blastomycosis pneumonia but contested its classification as a natural death.
Hill emphasized additional factors that should be taken into account, such as the remote location of the community without immediate access to well-equipped medical facilities where Moore and the other victims resided. She highlighted the delayed diagnosis of blastomycosis, noting that medical professionals did not identify it as the cause until it was too late, despite multiple visits to the hospital with pneumonia-like symptoms.
Furthermore, Hill criticized the failure to transfer Moore to a more suitable hospital in a timely manner, citing the Ornge air ambulance’s inability to adhere to its policy of transporting priority patients within a four-hour window. She asserted that the outbreak and subsequent deaths could have been prevented, refuting the notion that they were inevitable or uncontrollable circumstances.
Advocating for the implementation of all 87 recommendations jointly proposed by the involved parties, Hill stressed the need for enhanced healthcare services in Constance Lake to prevent similar tragedies. She specifically requested support for funding two full-time Indigenous health navigators at the local health center and the presence of a nurse or doctor within the community, despite Indigenous Services Canada’s reluctance to support recommendations requiring additional funding.
Additionally, Hill expressed concerns about the potential for the inquest’s recommendations to remain unimplemented, proposing the establishment of a “blastomycosis inquest implementation committee” within Constance Lake to address these issues.
Bianca Braganza, the legal representative for Constance Lake First Nation, echoed the sentiment that describing the deaths as “natural” did not accurately capture the circumstances. She highlighted environmental factors, including blue-green algae contamination and sewage issues in the community, which contributed to the ideal conditions for blastomycosis spores to thrive.
The lawyer for Indigenous Services Canada argued for categorizing the deaths as “natural” rather than “undetermined,” emphasizing opposition to certain recommendations, including the inspection and cleanup of mold-infested homes within three months.
Regarding the healthcare professionals involved, the lawyer representing the treating doctors advocated for classifying the deaths as natural, citing the prompt identification of blastomycosis and support for enhancing healthcare resources in northern Ontario.
In conclusion, the presiding coroner emphasized the importance of understanding the events without assigning blame, reiterating that the deaths profoundly impacted the community. The jury is now tasked with reviewing the evidence and recommendations, with deliberations ongoing.