Defence in Calgary trial says hospital not parents' neglect caused child's death

A jury heard testimony Monday that a 14-month-old boy's treatment in a Calgary hospital, not malnutrition or an overwhelming infection, was to blame for the baby's death.

Jeromie and Jennifer Clark have pleaded not guilty to criminal negligence causing death and failure to provide the necessaries of life for their son John.

Jeromie Clark's lawyer, David Chow, called Anny Sauvageau, Alberta's former chief medical examiner, as an expert witness on Monday.

She contradicted testimony from the current chief medical examiner, Elizabeth Brooks-Lim, that suggested John was malnourished and died of sepsis.

• Calgary baby death trial told boy's rash was likely nutritional deficiency

Sauvageaulooked at John's autopsy report, aneuropathologist'sreport, medical records and photographs. She said the child most likely died of an "overly aggressive correction" of the sodium in his blood.

The jury has already heard doctors gave John saline fluids after his parents took him to a Calgary hospital on Nov. 28, 2013. He died the following day after suffering a seizure and two cardiac arrests.

When John came to hospital his sodium levels were very low at 107millimolesper litre and that was raisedby 17millimoleswithin an hour,Sauvageausaid. She said there should never be an increase of four to sixmillimolesper litre within that time span.

"We know for sure that the sodium was very low and that it was corrected way too fast compared to what is recommended,"Sauvageautestified.

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

Sauvageausaid it was also problematic that John was given so much fluid so quickly because it diluted his blood.

"No human body can go through that and adapt in an hour," she said.

Sauvageaualso suggested John's small size was due to a hormonal issue rather than malnutrition. She based that in part on the proportions of his body.

For instance, she said, when children are malnourished, they normally lose weight before deficiencies affect their growth.

In John's case, it was the opposite: he was very short, but on the chubby side.

"In my opinion, it is not malnutrition and there's absolutely no evidence whatsoever of any type of malnutrition in this kid,"
Sauvageausaid.

John never taken to doctor

As for septic shock, two of three cultures taken were negative for staph bacteria, she said. And if he had been really sick, the initial one taken before he was given antibiotics would have tested positive, but didn't.

Jennifer Clark's lawyer is not presenting evidence on her behalf.

Jurors earlier heard Crown testimony that John had some blackened toes, an unusual rash and an abnormally low body temperature when he arrived at the hospital.

Prosecutor Shane Parker said in his opening statement earlier this month that John was born at home, had never been vaccinated, was not fed properly and had never seen a doctor until the day before he died.

Parker said that John was on "death's doorstep" when he was taken to hospital and, because he was malnourished, he was unable to fight off a staph infection.

Computer searches for gangrene

In cross examination ofSauvageau, Parker asked whether she had been informed emergency doctors had described John as critically ill and "somewhat lifeless" when he arrived.

She said yes, but that those descriptions didn't match with what she saw in his medical files.

"Were you told, specifically before you came to testify today, the prognosis was John was not going to survive," Parker asked.

"Correct, but it doesn't mean it's right,"Sauvageauresponded.

Parker asked whetherSauvageauwas aware there was evidence the Clarks searched online for natural remedies for gangrene before taking John to hospital.

"In this case, I'm not sure I see what you want me to do with it,"Sauvageauresponded. "It would not help with the cause of death."

Closing arguments will take place Tuesday. The jury will receive final instructions on how to apply the law to deliberations Thursday before being sequestered until a verdict is reached.

• MORE CALGARY NEWS |C-Train driver saw girl, applied brake before fatal incident, police say
• MORE CALGARY NEWS |Former head of HR at CPS says dictatorship-style leadership led to her resignation
• Read more articles byCBC Calgary, like us onFacebookfor updates and subscribe to ourCBC Calgary newsletterfor the day's news at a glance