Retired investigator spoke for the deceased

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JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Johanna Abbott says the deaths of children are difficult for everyone involved.

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Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press ARCHIVES A would-be burglar�s body is removed from a pawn shop in 1994.

Johanna Abbott spent 18 years learning where Winnipeg's bodies were dumped, stashed or discovered. In many cases, she determined how they died.

Abbott, who retired Friday, was one of seven investigators with the provincial medical examiner's office. She was also the director of the office. As such, she said frankly last week that preventable mistakes have been made during Manitoba autopsies.

None, to the best of her knowledge, has "been made by pathologists with drastic consequences."

"I would say to you everyone makes mistakes," she said when pressed on the topic. She blamed a lack of a centralized facility and funding shortfalls for an inefficient system. She would not elaborate further.

In recent years, pathology errors have rocked medical communities in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

As an investigator, Abbott relied on her training as a nurse, as well as her detection skills, experience and mystery-solving abilities to work with doctors and police.

It was a job that bore little resemblance to TV shows like CSI, she said, but was remarkably satisfying.

"It's been fascinating," she said. "I didn't think that the work would be as interesting as it is."

Abbott came to nursing and her career as an investigator later in life. When she married, the couple chose to have a large family. She was interested in medicine but gave that dream up to stay home with her five boys. When her youngest son was five, he was diagnosed with cancer. Abbott said his hospital stays gave her an insight into nursing.

At 40, she went back to school and got her degree. She worked as a nurse at Health Sciences Centre for 18 months but wanted something new. When she saw an ad for the ME's job, she applied.

Under the province's Fatality Inquiries Act, deaths that result from accidents, suicide, homicide and under certain other circumstances are investigated. Children's deaths are automatically examined.

Abbott is clear her job was not to determine culpability.

"We're there to take possession of the body. The police are there to take charge of the investigation. We do gather up the information that is available at the time."

Medical office investigators examine the body at the scene. Their knowledge is invaluable.

"We see a lot," she said. "Police will see a lot, too, but it's not unusual for a police officer to respond to a death who hasn't seen a death."

Abbott cited the case of a woman found dead in her bed, apparently of natural causes. She was on her back. There was no blood visible. Abbott's examination revealed a stab wound under one of the woman's breasts. The weight of the breast staunched bleeding.

There is one case she will never forget. In 1994, a would-be burglar died after becoming lodged in a heating duct over a Notre Dame Avenue pawn shop. He had been there an entire August week before his body was discovered. The smell was overwhelming.

"There's a lot of things about that particular death I will never forget. The police officers will never forget."

She said she coped by relying on her training.

"You become very analytical. You know what you have to do and how to get it done... It showed me how people can work together and get things accomplished."

She said the deaths of children are extremely difficult for everyone involved.

"These families are broken. You have to be able to speak to these families, to move forward, all the while remembering your focus is that child. You are their advocate."

Families will often call investigators on the anniversaries of the death, Christmas or the child's birthday. "They want someone who understands."

The best part of her job has been the investigations that lead to systemic changes. She recalled the death of a baby who was smothered in a playpen. The case led to a product recall.

Usually, the work is not exciting.

"It's pretty much basic stuff day to day. On CSI and all those shows it all happens very quickly. That's actually pretty frustrating for us. We have to tell people it just happens like that on television."

Abbott said the ME's office needs more funding, resources and a centre that can house investigators, pathologists and autopsy rooms.

"When autopsies are done, quality is sometimes an issue," she said. "Many of them (pathologists) don't like to do autopsies. We need to have pathologists who are interested in them and trained to do forensic autopsies, together in one place."

The cost of centralizing operations has been the stumbling block.

"Our clients don't vote and don't protest. This office is at the bottom of the (budgetary) totem pole," she said dryly. "But we speak for the deceased. We protect their dignity."

She said she is no longer shocked by how people die or what they were doing leading up to their deaths.

"This is one job where you never say 'I've seen it all.' "

Retirement will bring more time with her five sons and grandchildren. She said she has the plots for a few good murder mysteries.

It will be up to someone else to meet and speak for the dead.

lindor.reynolds@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 3, 2012 A5