The parents of an Oak Bay teen who died from an accidental overdose are calling for a coronerB次元官网网址檚 inquest into the events that led to his death.

The intent is not to lay blame, they say, but to prevent other parents and families from having to endure the unnecessary and tragic death of a child.

Elliot Eurchuk was 16 years old when he died of an opioid overdose at his Oak Bay home on April 20. He battled drug dependency after he was prescribed opioids for four major surgeries in 2017, as a result of sports injuries. When his prescriptions of the highly addictive opioids ran out, he turned to street drugs. His parents say they are calling for an inquiry to find out what systemic changes need to take place to prevent this from happening again.

The request for the coronerB次元官网网址檚 inquest into the death of Elliot was sent in a letter to the Chief Coroner on June 29 and the Solicitor General on July 3 by Michael R. Scherr, the lawyer representing ElliotB次元官网网址檚 parents, Rachel Staples and Brock Eurchuk.

B次元官网网址淚t is the familyB次元官网网址檚 belief that only with a full and public investigation will similar deaths be prevented. In addition to the prevention of deaths, the overall health and wellness of many children in the province can be improved,B次元官网网址� reads the letter.

ElliotB次元官网网址檚 parents say that current legislation blocked them from helping their son, as it allowed Elliot to request that medical staff withhold all information regarding his high risk behaviour from his parents.

B次元官网网址淜ids try to make these decisions for themselves. If they donB次元官网网址檛 want the help, there is nothing in our legal system that allows us as parents to get them the help they need,B次元官网网址� said Staples.

The letter lays out a timeline and the parentsB次元官网网址� corresponding concerns.

On Feb. 10, while in care at Victoria General Hospital, Brock Eurchuk says Elliot was found not breathing and unresponsive in his hospital bed. A B次元官网网址渃ode blueB次元官网网址� was initiated and Elliot was revived with Naloxone B次元官网网址� a medication used to block the effects of opioids. That event was the first clear indication ElliotB次元官网网址檚 parents had of the severity of his drug use.

On Feb. 12, his parents say they pleaded with the hospital to keep him under care until they had B次元官网网址渁n effective, well laid out plan to address substance abuse difficulties.B次元官网网址�

On Feb. 14, four days after ElliotB次元官网网址檚 non-responsive episode, ElliotB次元官网网址檚 parents say he was discharged with no plan or supports in place to address the addiction.

On Feb. 16, his parents admitted Elliot to the hospital with police intervention under section 28 of the Mental Health Act for a 6-7 day stay.

Elliot was released and the physicians, according to his parents, ceased prescribing opioids. Elliot turned to street drugs and died on April 20 of an accidental overdose.

B次元官网网址淭he circumstances around the health supports (or lack thereof), school situations, institutional engagement with the family, legislative and health institutional policies and practices have yet to be investigated,B次元官网网址� states the letter.

The Vancouver Island Health Authority conducted an internal review of the standard of care that Elliot received while at the hospital, producing a report with recommendations that have not yet been released.

B次元官网网址淲hile VIHA has investigated the matter, the results of that investigation are not being made public. VIHA has confirmed that the investigation report will not even be disclosed to the family. This is insufficient,B次元官网网址� reads the inquiry request letter.

VIHA clarifies that Section 51 of the BC Evidence Act prohibits them from disclosing information and documentation collected as part of a hospitalB次元官网网址檚 quality of care review. However VIHA confirmed that the Eurchuk family will receive the recommendations that come out of the report. The family is currently awaiting those recommendations.

BC Coroners Service has confirmed they have received the request for a public inquest into the death of Elliot Eurchuk.

B次元官网网址淲hile there are cases that under our legislation are mandatory to go to an inquest, these are mostly police-involved deaths, and would not apply in this case. Thus, it will be up to the Chief Coroner to decide whether this case would benefit from a public inquest,B次元官网网址� said Barb McLintock, BC CoronerB次元官网网址檚 Service.

The Chief Coroner will wait until all the investigative research has been completed, and all the necessary reports B次元官网网址� such as autopsy and toxicologyB次元官网网址� are received. The Chief Coroner will then review the file in detail, and make a decision. The familyB次元官网网址檚 views are taken into account in that review.

B次元官网网址淲e do always announce publicly all inquests that are scheduled once a time and place are decided upon,B次元官网网址� said McLintock.

It is Brock EurchukB次元官网网址檚 hope that the coronerB次元官网网址檚 inquest will help to advance an amendment to the Safe Care Act prioritizing a parentB次元官网网址檚 right to access their childB次元官网网址檚 medical information in circumstances where that child is exhibiting lethal at risk behaviour.