Parents on trial in toddler's death brought boy to hospital 'on death's doorstep,' Calgary jurors hear

When 14-month-old John Clark was brought to the hospital onNov. 28, 2013, he was "on death's doorstep" with gangrenoustoes andan infected rashblistering and cracking over70 per cent of his body, whichwas in septic shock, jurors heard Monday morning.

The boy died 21 hours later.

"John's parentsignored the obvious and urgent need to see a real live doctor," said prosecutor Shane Parker in his opening statement to jurors in a Calgary courtroom.

Jennifer, 41, and Jeromie Clark, 38, are accused of failing their son by refusing to take him to a doctor and are charged with criminal negligence causing death and failing to provide the necessaries of life. Their three-week trial began Monday in the Court ofQueen's Bench.

John appeared 'lifeless'

On Nov 28, 2013, the Clarks brought their son to Foothills hospital. The boy was in septic shock, suffering multiple organ failure and was "losing his battle with a staph infection," said Parker.

Dr. Ping-Wei Chen was working a shift at Foothills Hospital when John was brought in and was the first doctor to treat the boy.

"I was very worried," Chen testified. "[John] appeared somewhat lifeless."

John was hypothermic when he arrived at hospital and besides his necrotic toes, had a green discharge coming from his eye, said Chen.

The ER doctor believed John was getting close to a cardiac arrest.

Chen travelled with the boy to the Alberta Children's Hospital in an ambulance where a team of doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists were waiting.

Cross-examination

Under cross examination, Chen agreed with JeromieClark'slawyer David Chow that there were several reasons he was hopeful about John's prognosis.

The child had a clear airway, his abdomen was not distended, and his babyhood soft spot delicate spot on the top of a baby's head wasneither swollen nor sunken.

Chen also confirmed John's condition appeared to have declined somewhat in his 21 hours at hospital based on the photographs which were entered as an exhibit.

Chow asked Chen questions about a type of staph bacteria which is known to live in hospitals.

When asked if any of the medical tools used on John were tested for bacteria, Chen said he was unsure though it would not have been common practice.

Jennifer Clark's lawyer John Phillips askedChen if sepsis can happen quickly. The doctor agreed, adding people with compromised immune systems are at an even greater risk.

Paramedic breaks down

Paramedic Jessica Kerr, who was also in the ambulance with John, broke down as she described what he looked like when she first laid eyes on him.

"He was a sick little boy," said Kerr, who was the second Crown witness to testify.

Kerr then took a moment to compose herself, wiping awaytears from her face.

"He looked like he had been burned from head to toe."

The toddler died from what the prosecution said should have been a treatable infection. Before he was hospitalized, John had never been taken to a doctor.

David Stephan in court to support Clarks

"John was too small and too weak to fight," said Parker, who told jurors the Clarks were legally obligated to bring the sick childto a doctor.

"As his parents they owed him that small but incredibly important duty."

Tests on the dead boy showed he had also been suffering from severe malnutrition and wasin the 0.1 percentile of height and weight for his age and gender.

John was so malnourished and his immune system so compromised, the small boy "could not ward off death," said Parker.

Court of Queen's Bench JusticePaul Jeffrey is presiding over the trial.

David Stephan is sitting in the courtroom in support of theClarks. Stephan and his wife are heading to trial next year on charges of failingto provide the necessaries of life to their 19-month-old son Ezekiel, who diedfrom meningitis in 2012.

The couple was convicted in 2016 but the Supreme Court of Canada ordered a new trial after finding the trialjudge erred in his instructions to the jury.

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