The Goudge Inquiry and Forensic Pathology in Canada

Abstract

Aims:

This article analyses the effects of The Inquiry into Pediatric Forensic Pathology in Ontario, commonly known as the Goudge Inquiry, and its effects upon forensic pathology in Canada.

Methods:

The Goudge Inquiry was a Government of Ontario public inquiry that examined the delivery of pediatric forensic pathology services to the Ontario Coroner’s Office and the Canadian criminal justice system. The inquiry was conducted by Mr. Justice Goudge, a court of Appeal Judge and made substantial recommendations of improving forensic pathology in a Coroner system and its role in delivering evidence to the criminal justice system. This article reviews the inquiry and discusses the effect of the inquiry on the development of forensic pathology in Canada and academic literature about the inquiry.

Results:

The Inquiry has had important effects on the role of all expert witnesses in the courts and is the most substantial examination of forensic pathology by any judicial inquiry.

Conclusions:

The Goudge Inquiry has been considered a significant success, being described as transformative.

Keywords

Forensic pathology Goudge Inquiry Forensic Pathology Canada

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Goudge

. The Inquiry into Pediatric Forensic Pathology in Ontario (2008) http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/e_records/goudge/index.html. Accessed April 28, 2023.

David Marshall David

. Canadian Law of Inquests: A Handbook for Coroners, Medical Examiners, Counsel, and the Police. 2nd ed. Thomson Professional Publishing Canada; 1991.

Coroners Act

R.S.O

1990, c.C37. https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90c37. Accessed 28 April 2023.

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). https://www.royalcollege.ca/rcsite/home-e. Accessed April 28, 2023.

O, Connor DR. Some Observations on Public Inquiries (2007) https://www.ontariocourts.ca/coa/about-the-court/archives/publicinquiries/. Accessed April 28, 2023.

The Lord Saville of Newdigate. The Blood Sunday Inquiry (2010) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-of-the-bloody-sunday-inquiry. Accessed April 28, 2023.

Smith

. The Shipman Inquiry (2002-2005). https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20080820183409/http://www.the-shipman-inquiry.org.uk/finalreport.asp. Accessed April 28, 2023.

Kennedy

. The Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry (2001). https://www.bristol-inquiry.org.uk/final_report/index.htm. Accessed 28 April 2023.

Kaufman

. Report of the Kaufman Commission on Proceedings Involving Guy Paul Morin (1995). https://wayback.archive-it.org/16312/20210402201842/http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/about/pubs/morin/morin_esumm.html. Accessed April 28, 2023.

10.

Beaman

. Motherisk Commission, Harmful Impacts: The Reliance on Hair Testing in Child Protection (2018). https://files.ontario.ca/mag-motherisk-commission-report-en-2021-02-04.pdf. Accessed April 28, 2023.

11.

Gillese

. Public Inquiry into the Safety and Security of Residents in the Long-Term Care Homes System (2019). http://longtermcareinquiry.ca/wp-content/uploads/20190730_Commissioners-Remarks-on-Report-Release-EN.pdf. Accessed April 28, 2023.

12.

Pollanen

. Forensic pathology and the miscarriage of justice. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2012;8(3):285–289.

13.

Kennedy

. “Public Inquiries’ Terms of Reference: Lessons from the Past-and for the Future”. Man LJ. 2018;41:317.

14.

Goudge

. Reflections on the public inquiry into pediatric forensic pathology in Ontario. In: Jacobs

Baglay

, ed. The Nature of Inquisitorial Processes in Administrative Regimes: Global Perspectives. Taylor & Francis Group; 2013.

15.

Eggertson

. Goudge: “systemic failings” in Ontario Coroner’s Office. CMAJ. 2008;179(10):995.

16.

Iacobucci

Hamilton

. The Goudge Inquiry and the role of medical expert witnesses. CMAJ. 2010;182(1):53–56.

17.

Edmond

Roach

. “A contextual approach to the admissibility of the state’s forensic science and medical evidence.” Univ Tor Law J. 2011;61(3):343–409.

18.

Cradock

. Thinking Goudge: fatal child abuse and the problem of uncertainty. Curr Sociol. 2011;59(3):362–378.

19.

Skellern

Donald

. The relevance of the Goudge inquiry to the practice of child protection/forensic paediatrics. J Forensic Leg Med. 2014;27:35–38.

20.

Sossin

. 12 The Goudge Inquiry: Anatomy of Success for an Inquiry to Change Policy? Commissions of Inquiry and Policy Change: A Comparative Analysis. 2014:244.

21.

Ontario Forensic Pathology Service. Annual Report 2019. https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-forensic-pathology-service-annual-report-july-27-2017-march-31-2019. Accessed April 28, 2023.