PUBLISHER'S NOTE: A definitive book on disgraced former doctor Charles Smith by John Chipman is a major event. John Chipman is a journalist, author and documentarian, and is currently a producer at CBC Radio's
As It Happens.
His work has taken him across Canada, to Eastern Europe, the Balkans
and the Middle East. He has worked, written and edited for the
National Post,
The Globe and Mail and the
Toronto Star. He also co-produced a Gemini-award-winning television documentary for
The Fifth Estate, and has done numerous radio documentaries and special features for
The Current,
Metro Morning and
The Sunday Edition. He is the author of
The Obsession: Tragedy in the North Atlantic. In my personal view, he is a Journalist with a capital 'J' in the finest sense of the word. I am particularly pleased to see the publication of this book by Doubleday/Random House, as I have always been deeply concerned that without such a work, Smith will be all to willingly try and fill the vacuum with his usual mantra explaining actions as innocent errors and mistakes; I have been concerned that he will, with the passage of time and indifference claim to be a victim of a vendetta be his jealous, lesser 'peers.' I have been concerned that, without a true, popular account of Smith's actions and their impact on his victims, Smith will drag out his well-worn fatuous claim that any other pathologist, with the knowledge available at the time, would have reached the same conclusions. I haven't read 'Death in the Family 'yet - (can't wait to!) - but Julian Sher, also an outstanding journalist whose opinions I also trust, has read the book, and writes in a blurb:
“With the clinical precision and the driving passion for the truth
that are the hallmarks of every great journalist, John Chipman takes you
on a harrowing journey into a parent’s worst nightmare: not only has
your child died, but you are wrongly blamed for the death. Shocking,
enraging and yet ultimately uplifting, Chipman’s investigation adds yet
another haunting chapter to Canada’s long history of wrongful
convictions.”Julian is author of “Until You Are Dead”: Steven Truscott’s Long Ride into History." Michael Harris, author of
Justice Denied,
Unholy Orders and
Party of One, writes in an advance blurb
: “Chipman
explains how an incompetent pathologist helped convict innocent parents
of their children’s deaths and allowed a murderer to go free. Brimming
with emotional intelligence, the ending of this book is stunning.
Bravo!”
Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog.
PUBLISHER'S DESCRIPTION: "In a work of vigorous reporting, careful analysis, deep
compassion and unerring integrity, award-winning journalist and
documentarian John Chipman investigates the lives left ruined in the
wake of Dr. Charles Smith’s ignominious career.
BACKGROUND PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER:
"In the
mid-’90s, the Ontario Coroner’s office decided that death investigation
teams needed to “think dirty.” They wanted coroners, pathologists and
police to be more suspicious–to “assume that all deaths are homicides
until satisfied that they are not.” They were particularly concerned
about pediatric deaths, which historically had been exceedingly
difficult to investigate. There were usually no witnesses; no evidence
to gather at the scene; no outward signs of trauma on the body. If the
pathologist did not discover the truth of what had happened, child abuse
could go uncovered. Among those charged to “think dirty” was
Dr. Charles Smith, Ontario’s top pediatric forensic pathologist at the
time. But with virtually no training in forensics, Dr. Smith was ill
prepared for his work. Instead of basing his judgments on forensic
evidence found during autopsies, he allowed himself to be swayed by
circumstantial evidence. The defendants were often single mothers–some
on welfare, some struggling with substance abuse. And they made for easy
targets. Dr. Smith made dangerous assumptions, and the results were
catastrophic. Numerous individuals were pronounced guilty, and
incarcerated, on his shaky evidence. This penetrating
investigative work explores the wide ripples of destruction caused when
the justice system fails, the burden felt by ethical individuals working
within that system and the importance of its victims finally being
heard."
Random House Web page - with pre-ordering for 'Death in the Family' at a reduced rate , at the link below:
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/228817/death-in-the-family-by-john-chipman/9780385680844/
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the
Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my
previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put
considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith
and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic
pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses
on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please
send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest
to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy;
Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.