'They need help': Office of the Chief Medical Examiner understaffed, review far from over

An external review of the province's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will take another several months, but a lack of staffing is a clear issue, said the doctor heading the probe.

Matthew Bowes, chief medical examiner of Nova Scotia, gave an update outside the House of Assembly on Wednesday.

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Newfoundland and Labrador's office of three employees is understaffed, he said, compared to the Nova Scotia office of 24 employees.

"They need help," Bowes said.

Bowes was hiredby the Department of Justice in August to review the medical examiner's office after a murder charge against Thomas George Michel was dismissed.

In November 2013, the 24-year-old Sheshatshiu man was charged with second-degree murder in the death of his four-month-old son, Matthew.

Bowes said he has interviewed the province's medical examiner, Simon Avis, as well as his team and police officers.

Charges were dismissed when the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner lost key evidence in the case the baby's brain and dura.

A CBC News investigation found the evidence was likelythrown out with medical waste.

Bowes is currently finishing up a site visit in St. John's as part of his review.

Meanwhile, Child and Youth Advocate Carol Chafe told CBC News that her review into Rich's death is complete. It needsto be finalized before it will be released.