Brian Sinclair
An inquest into the death of Brian Sinclair is set to conclude this week. Sinclair, 45, was from the Sagkeeng First Nation. He died in September 2008 after being ignored in a hospital emergency room in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for 34 hours. According to Manitoba's chief medical examiner, Sinclair's death from a bladder infection could have been prevented if he had been provided treatment. But no one was held criminally responsible for the incident. Sinclair's family repeatedly called for an inquest to find out what happened and to make changes to prevent future deaths. They pulled out earlier this year when the judge refused to allow testimony regarding racism against Native patients. “Last October, I heard Judge Preston say that ‘this court is alive to the issue of inequality and marginalization.’ He noted ‘the estrangement of Aboriginal people from the halls of justice,'" Robert Sinclair, who is Brian Sinclair’s cousin, said in a press release in February. "But right now, this family feels very marginalized, and very estranged from the justice system.” The family has since returned to the proceedings and will offer recommendations this week, the Canadian Press reported. Get the Story:
Brian Sinclair inquest to conclude more than 5 years after ER death (CP 6/8)
Brian Sinclair inquest continues without family, aboriginal group (CBC 2/19)
Brian Sinclair's family loses confidence, pulls out of inquest (CBC 2/18)
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