A judge has ruled that a full inquiry will proceed into the death of a 77-year-old Calgary woman following her COVID-19 vaccination. The inquiry, concerning Margaret Ghazar’s death on April 8, 2021, will explore potential connections between the vaccine and her subsequent illness.
Despite extensive investigations by multiple medical bodies, Justice Indra Maharaj determined these reviews weren’t sufficient to replace a public fatality inquiry. While these bodies assessed the case as a potential adverse event following immunization, the process lacked the transparency and public accessibility required by law.
Arguments to halt the inquiry centered on the belief that the question of the vaccine’s role in Ghazar’s death had already been thoroughly investigated. Alberta Justice supported this position, asserting further hearings were unnecessary.
Dr. Alexander Doroshenko, a medical officer of health, conducted an initial causality assessment, concluding the link between the vaccination and Ghazar’s death remained indeterminate. This assessment acknowledged uncertainty, rather than definitively ruling out a connection.
The Vaccine Injury Support Program, which provided financial assistance to the family, reached a different conclusion. They found, based on a balance of probabilities, that evidence suggested a causal association between the vaccine and Ghazar’s death.
Both provincial and federal health agencies also examined the case, analyzing the timeline between the March 9, 2021 vaccination and her death a month later from acute pneumonia. These investigations aimed to identify any potential adverse effects and contribute to national vaccine safety monitoring.
However, Justice Maharaj emphasized a critical distinction: these investigations, while comprehensive, occurred behind closed doors. They lacked the public visibility and opportunity for participation inherent in a formal inquiry.
The judge clarified that the inquiry isn’t intended to establish the vaccine as the direct cause of death. Instead, it will determine the extent to which the vaccine *contributed* to Ghazar’s passing, if at all.
Should a connection be established, the judge will then consider recommendations to prevent similar outcomes in the future. The inquiry’s goal is not to assign blame, but to learn and improve public health safety measures.
A date for the fatality inquiry has yet to be scheduled, but the decision ensures a public examination of the circumstances surrounding Margaret Ghazar’s death. This process offers a crucial opportunity for transparency and potential improvements to the system.
