Sask. children's advocate says youth corrections system failed dead teen

Saskatchewan’s Children’s Advocate says a teen was failed by the youth corrections system when he died in September 2013.
 
Despite concerns raised by court sheriffs and the boy’s own lawyer Dylan Lachance’s pain was dismissed by the director of the Prince Albert Youth Facility.
 
It was noted by staff that the hearing impaired 16-year-old was “trembling and whimpering quietly,” but his pain was ignored.
 
In a special report tabled Wednesday, Bob Pringle contends there should have been provisions made to communicate with Lachance despite his disability.
 
“They ignored the medical decisions, they didn’t follow the medical practice and ignored external concerns about his illness,” Pringle explained. “In the facility, in our opinion, there was a downplaying of just how ill he was, especially by the senior facility manager, in our view his growing pain was ignored.”
 
That facility director was let go along with another staff member.
 
Following an internal review, the government has made policy changes to ensure staff know they can call an ambulance, regardless of a decision taken by their managers.
 
Lachance’s mother Dinah listened as the report was read and hopes it will prevent further deaths in the future.