P.E.I. coroner's office announces inquest into death of 25-year-old diabetic

A coroner's inquest will be held in early 2025 to look into the circumstances leading up to the death of Brandi Clarke in March 2023.

The 25-year-old Prince Edward Island woman died of diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that is preventable when a diabetic person's blood sugar levels are being monitored properly.

At the time of her death, she was living in Charlottetown, at a provincially funded transitional housing complex operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association.

"I am sorry for your loss and hopefully this proceeding will allow us to find out the circumstances that led to her death and make meaningful recommendations to prevent this from happening again," Dr. Brandon Webber, P.E.I.'s chief coroner, wrote in an email to Brandi's mother Heidi Clarke on Monday.

"We currently have two other inquests which will occur this fall and I anticipate we will hold this inquest in [the] early months of 2025."

Webber also sent Heidi Clarke a copy of a letter he had sent to the Department of Justice and Public Safety in which he confirmed he was calling the inquest, citing his powers to do so under Sections 16 and 17 of the provincial Coroners Act.

Heidi Clarke wants answers to her questions about her 25-year-old daughter Brandi's death

3 months ago

Duration 3:36

Brandi Clarke died from a lack of insulin while living in government-funded transitional housing. Fifteen months later, her mother is still searching for answers.

"The recommendation stems from concerns surrounding her ability to care for her Type 1 diabetes in the setting of severe and persistent mental illness and factors in the management of her illness that may have contributed to her demise," Webber wrote in that letter.

He said he would preside over the inquest and requested that the department appoint legal counsel to assist with the proceeding.

Earlier this summer, Heidi Clarke went public with her anguish over her daughter's death, telling CBC Newsthe first question she asked duringher daughter's intake session at the CMHAhousing complex was whether its staff were trained to support a person with diabetes.

The most important step in controlling the disease is making sure blood sugar readings are being taken regularly. Ideally, Diabetes Canada recommends checkingat least three times daily so that any changes can be addressed by injecting enough insulin to stave off diabetic ketoacidosis.

According to Brandi Clarke's personal blood glucose monitor, her blood was tested once on Dec. 1, 2022. The next test recorded on the device was almost two months later, in late January of 2023. That was the last test recorded on the monitor before the young woman died in March.

In a statement to CBC News in June, CMHA P.E.I. shares its condolences withBrandi Clarke's family.

"CMHA P.E.I. takes this matterveryseriously, and we have been in communication with Heidi Clarkeand have met with her personally," the statement read.

"We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of care, safety and support for all community members that connect with our organization."