The province is struggling to recruit a second forensic pathologist to take some of the workload from the only specialist in Saskatchewan holding that position.
Based in Saskatoon City Hospital, Dr. Shaun Ladham is Saskatchewan’s first and only forensic pathologist probing sudden and unnatural deaths. This means that bodies have to be transported to Saskatoon if they require forensic examination.
“It’s certainly inconvenient,” chief coroner Kent Stewart told Metro, “but … we have someone with the best skill and knowledge, and it also depends on scheduling.”
The province had another forensic pathologist based in Regina, though that person left the job last year.
“We’ve been recruiting for an additional one in Regina since 2013, but it’s a very difficult position to fill for a number of reasons,” Stewart said.
According to Stewart, Canada has a significant shortage of qualified forensic pathologists. And Saskatchewan has to compete with larger jurisdictions that could offer different lifestyles and more varied cases.
Alberta has 10 forensic pathologists based in Calgary and Edmonton, according to a government spokeswoman.
“They have state-of-the-art facilities too,” Stewart said. “And those are certainly very attractive.”
Unlike Saskatchewan, Alberta follows the medical examiner (ME) system in which death investigations are conducted by physicians trained in forensic pathology. Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador also use the ME system.
Saskatchewan, on the other hand, uses a system in which the forensic pathologist assists a coroner. The coroner is not required to be a physician, but generally has a legal, medical or investigative background.
All other Canadian provinces and territories also run on the coroner system.
Ladham works on about 200 to 250 cases a year, Stewart added, noting that only a small number are homicides.
The availability of only one pathologist has not been a significant problem for RCMP, spokesman Sgt. Craig Cleary said, adding that “we haven’t experienced any unusual delays that affected any of our investigations.”
Despite the challenge, Stewart said his office will continue to try to find the right candidate.
“It’s tough,” he said, “but I know there’s somebody out there.”
Originally published by Metro News Canada
