New Brunswick’s chief coroner has announced an inquest will be held in November examining a Fredericton teenager who died by suicide.
Sixteen-year-old Lexi Daken died on February 24, 2021 at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital.
Her death came days after her family says she spent hours at the Chalmers Hospital trying and failing to access mental health services.
Shortly after her death, former health minister Dorothy Shephard acknowledged the province must fix a broken system.
A report was prepared by the province’s child and youth advocate which indicated Daken’s death could have been prevented and it also made numerous recommendations on how to improve the system.
Presiding coroner Emily Caissy and a jury will publicly hear evidence from witnesses to determine the facts surrounding Daken’s death.
The jury will have an opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing deaths under similar circumstances.
An inquest is a formal court proceeding that allows for the public presentation of all evidence relating to a death.
The New Brunswick Coroner Service is an independent fact-finding agency that does not make any finding of legal responsibility.
The coroner’s inquest will be held at the University of New Brunswick Law School in Fredericton from November 6-10.
