Father convicted of failing to provide necessities of life for son promotes nutritional supplements

A man who went to jail after using natural remediesto treathis son's meningitisis going to Prince George, B.C., to promote nutritional supplementssold by his family's business a move that issparking controversy online.

David Stephan and his wife were charged with "failing to provide the necessariesof life" after their nearly 19-month-old son Ezekiel diedof bacterial meningitis.

• Alberta parents convicted in toddler's meningitis death

The couple testified they believed Ezekiel had croup or flu and treated him with remedies including hot peppers, garlic onions and horseradish.

Court heard a recording of the couple explaining to policethey prefer naturopathic remedies because of their family's negative experiences with the medical system.

Promoting 'alternative'

On Jan. 10, Stephan was scheduled to speak about "how his family members suffered from mental illness and were made well," according to a display atAve Maria Specialities, an "alternative and holistic health service" store in Prince George.

Stephanworks forTruehopeNutritional Support, co-founded by his father.

TruehopeproducesEMPowerplus,billed on the company'swebsiteas "natural alternative to pharmaceutical medications" aimed at treating mental disorders such asbipolar disorder, ADD/ADHDand stress.

The appearance attracted negative attention on Ave Maria's Facebook page from people concerned the store is giving a platform for Stephan to promote a message of going outside the medical system to treat medical issues.

Ave Maria owner Dave Fuller saidStephanhad spoken at the store in the past and was back by request.

"He has helped a number of our customers," he said. "We had a number of people request him to come back. We didn't think that this would be an issue."

CBC tried to reach TruehopeandStephanto speak about thePrince George appearance, butno comment was provided.

In 2003 and 2007, Health Canadaissued warningsabout EMPowerplus, saying there isno evidenceit is safe.

In 2004, itlaunchedan unsuccessful court caseto stopEMPowerplusfrom being distributed in Canada.

In 2006, the company wasfound not guiltyof distributingEMPowerpluswithout a drug identification number.

TheTruehopewebsitesaysEMPowerplusis"not intended todiagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."

Medical care not sought soon enough: judge

In April 2016, a jury found Stephan and his wife guilty of failing to provide the necessities of life for their son after he became ill.

Justice RodneyJerke said the couple were caring parentsbut said theymade a conscious decision not to see a doctor for over a day before Ezekielwas rushed to hospital.

He sentenced Stephan to four months jail, saying he haddeflected responsibilityand demonstrated a complete lack of remorse for his actions.

His wife was sentenced to three months house arrest with exceptions for church and medical appointments.

Both parents were ordered to complete 240 hours of community service.

Jerke saidwhileStephan'swife called a nurse and researchedtheir son's illness,Stephanusednutritional supplements and talked to his father.

"[David] loved his son, but to this day refuses to accept his actions played any role in Ezekiel's death," he said.

On Facebook, Stephan said Ezekiel was given EMPowerplus regularly because "it assists with brain function," but clarified it was not being used as a treatment.

Fuller said he believes Stephandid what he thought was best for his son.

"Who am I to say that just because something happenedthat was an accidentthe guy regrets his son died that heshouldn't have a job?" he asked.

In aninterview withCBCCalgaryin June 2016, Stephansaid he'd spent time thinking about the "would've, could've, should've" of his son's fate.

He also said he worries the case sets a precedent for prosecuting loving parents whose care-giving style falls outside government-dictated norms.

An appeal is scheduled for March 9 in Calgary.

With files from CBC Alberta.