Board-wide protocol likely outcome of review of controversial school speaker

School board officials are conducting a review of circumstances around a decision to welcome disgraced pathologist Charles Smith to speak about pathology to a Grade 11 law class  at PECI last Friday.
“At present the process (of inviting speakers) is school-based,” said McGall. “The likely outcome of this will be a system protocol board-wide.” said Rob McGall, Director of Education.
Smith, who was a forensic pathologist with Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, was once considered an expert in his field and was called on to testify in cases involving suspicious deaths and alleged child abuse. A coroner’s review in 2007 found Smith made wrongful conclusions in 20 of 45 autopsies conducted between 1991 and 2002. His conclusions led to the jailing of innocent people and the removal of children from their homes.
The inquiry found Smith “made false and misleading statements” in court proceedings and “lacked basic knowledge about forensic pathology.”
Smith’s medical licence expired in August 2008 and was not renewed by The College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Hastings and Prince Edward County School Board officials were “surprised” Smith was invited to speak to students and “disappointed” the board was not consulted about the session given Smith’s record.
“We’re concerned about the situation and we are conducting a review around the issues of how much thought and consideration was given to making this decision and the consequences of having such a controversial speaker,” said McGall.
He confirmed a family connection between a student in the class and Smith played a role in the organization of the event, but the board is most concerned about “its role of guiding principles around balanced prospectives and the care taken to ensure balance for the students.”