A Glimmer of Understanding; A Fatal Decision Part Two: The Illusion;

In yesterday's posting, I passed on my glimmer of understanding as to how Dr. Charles Smith was able to have such a disastrous effect on Ontario's criminal justice system. (A glimmer of understanding: Part One);

The pivotal event was the fatal decision to appoint a relatively self-taught man who had no formal qualifications in forensic pathology as head of a new unit - the Ontario Pediatric Forensic Pathology Unit - which was created in 1991 at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

An examination of his curriculum Vitae, shows that Smith received his medical degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1975 and then was hired to work full-time in the Hospital for Sick Children's pathology department six years later.

By 1991 when he was appointed head of the new unit, Dr. Smith still had not acquired any formal qualifications in the area of forensic pathology, and had, according to Dr. Ernest Cutz, one of his colleagues at the hospital, effectively learned on the job through the occasional autopsy involving a suspicious death.

In short, the appointment gave Doctor Smith, a relatively small fish in the world of forensic pathology, power and prestige which was far beyond that which he had previously enjoyed, which Smith could then trade upon in order to create the illusion that he was truly an accomplished authority in the area.

(Although Dr. Smith's resume is loaded with references to his many periodical articles, I was unable to find a single one which had under-gone a peer-review process by a specialist in forensic pathology);

The appointment would serve to elevate Dr. Smith's status at the Hospital for Sick Children, where other pathologists doing work for the unit would have to provide their forensic reports to him. (The Inquiry has learned that his own reports did not come under scrutiny);

It would also enhance his reputation in the Coroner's office, where, as Dr. Cutz testified then Chief Coroner Dr. James Young - took him under his wing and served as his mentor.

There were only two specialized Units for performing forensic autopsies in Ontario and Dr. Charles Smith was now head of one of them.

Ontario Forensic Pediatric Pathology Unit Smith would hobnob with top officials in government and in the Coroner's establishment.

I don't think in my years of reporting on Dr. Smith that I have come across one high official who did not refer to him affectionately as "Charles."

His new position would open the door to invitations to attend prestigious national and international conferences and to lecture to students, police officers, and prosecutors - and to being adored by the media.

The illustrious Dr. Charles Randal Smith was born.

Next: A glimmer of understanding: Part Three; Dr. Smith and the Hospital for Sick Children SCAN (Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect) team): a dangerous mix;

Harold Levy: hlevy15@gmail.com;