EON

Toronto – A pediatric forensic pathologist, once considered one of the best in Canada, has apologized for the mistakes he made resulting in wrongful criminal convictions.

A public inquiry into the Pediatric Forensic Pathology in Ontario is underway, an inquiry that was initiated because of flawed medical findings of Dr Charles Smith.

Speaking through his lawyer, Smith surprised the inquiry by issuing an apology for the mistakes he made during the 20 years he performed autopsies for the Chief Coroners office.

“Dr. Smith wishes to publicly acknowledge to the commission that in the 20 years that he performed autopsies at the direction of the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario, he made a number of mistakes for which he is truly sorry. Dr. Smith sincerely regrets these mistakes and apologizes to all who may have been affected by his errors.”

Twenty cases from the 80’s and 90’s are being reviewed.  Thirteen of those cases resulted in criminal convictions, some of which have since been thrown out.

Smith is currently facing civil suits stemming from wrongful arrests and convictions that were a result of his medical findings.