Confusion delays inquest

Sick Kids' cover-up: Lawyer

The inquest into the death of 10-year-old Lisa Shore at the Hospital for Sick Children has been adjourned until January in a state of technical confusion.

 Hospital spokesmen said yesterday they have faith in their 130 heart-monitoring devices -- but would not say whether they will refloat a malfunction theory about them.

 Lisa's parents angrily criticized the hospital over their daughter's death Oct. 22, 1998.

 "We just find it unspeakably sad that the hospital will not accept any responsibility," mom Sharon Shore said outside coroner's court. "We think it's reprehensible the hospital ... is now trying to put forward the theory that possibly the equipment was malfunctioning."

 On its first day last Monday, the inquest heard doctor's orders for monitoring of Lisa never reached ward nurses.

 'SHE'D STILL BE ALIVE'

 "Had she received competent nursing care, she would still be alive," said Lisa's mom, choking back tears.

 Coroner Dr. Jim Cairns granted standing to the manufacturer of Corometric heartbeat and breathing monitors used at Sick Kids yesterday, then told jurors the inquest will resume in early 2000 and all witnesses may be recalled.

 The inquest had been on for a day and a half this week when an uproar ensued over surprise evidence about a test on the same type of monitor that was in Lisa's room when she died.

 Hospital engineer Stephan Bowers testified a Corometric monitor's flashing light indicated heartbeats when he passed data through it from another device attached to Lisa during resuscitation attempts -- when she had no heartbeat.

 The exact monitor that was in Lisa's ward room was not preserved and is "lost in space with 130 other Corometric monitors at the hospital," Shore family lawyer Frank Gomberg said. 

 Gomberg called the malfunction theory "preposterous, outrageous. This whole thing is a big, cynical smokescreen. They blew the treatment and they're trying to cover it up."

 WILL COOPERATE

 Hospital spokesman Cyndy DeGiusti told reporters later the hospital will co-operate fully with the coroner's office to get to the bottom of what may have happened with the monitor."

 But hospital lawyer Patrick Hawkins said Sick Kids has "fully looked at the monitor in question ... That monitor is still being used."