Article content

Hamilton forensic pathologists say their busy unit at Hamilton General Hospital is being closed because they were witnesses in a complaint against Ontario’s top forensic pathologist, Dr. Michael Pollanen, and the province’s top coroner, Dr. Dirk Huyer.

The unit is one of seven forensic pathology facilities in Ontario, handling medical-legal autopsies and investigations in sudden or suspicious deaths.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Christie Blatchford: Was Hamilton forensic pathology unit punished for testifying against provincial bosses? Back to video

The complaint against the two men was filed recently with the Death Investigation Oversight Council (DIOC), the independent body which is responsible for overseeing coroners and pathologists, by Dr. Jane Turner, former medical director at the Hamilton unit, who left last year and is now working in the United States.

Both Pollanen and Huyer are members of DIOC, albeit non-voting ones, but regulations preclude them from sitting on the complaints committee.

The last witness in the Turner complaint testified before the committee on June 26.