Doctor says he erred in concluding Makibi Timilak died of a lung infection

An experienced pathologist testified Thursday at a coroner's inquest into the infantMakibiTimilak'sdeath, that he mistakenly concluded the 3-month old died from a lung infection.

Dr. Joseph deNanassytold the jury he misread a tissue sample during a 2012 autopsy.

In the years sinceTimilak'sdeath in April of 2012, the cause of death has changed three times, leaving his grieving parents confused and burdened with unanswered questions.The coroner's jury is charged with determining the cause of death, the circumstances around it, and making recommendations.

Timilakwas rushed to the CapeDorsethealth centre after his parents woke up to find him not breathing.Nurses attempted to revive the infant but could not.

• Full investigation into baby's death should have happened years ago: Nunavut health director

A doctor inIqaluitdetermined the cause was Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Later that month Dr. deNanassy, a pathologist with 20 years of experience, conducted an autopsy at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

While examining a tissue sample of Makibi's lung under a microscope, Dr. deNanassyfound what he thought was a cluster of cytomegalovirus, or CMV. He testified Thursday he was then of the opinion that the infection was probably "severe enough" to causeTimilak'sdeath.

Mistake caught in review

In June 2012, he faxed off his final autopsy report to Nunavut's Chief CoronerPadmaSuramala, stating that CMV a common respiratory virus caused the baby'sdeath.

Three years later,SuramalaemaileddeNanassyto say his report was under review.

One of the pathologists who reviewed the microscopic slides figured out that what deNanassythought was CMV turned out to beformalinpigment, a type of liquidused to prepare tissue slides for examination under a microscope.

The spots were not the result of red blood cells breaking down due to CMV as deNanassyhad originallythought.

DeNanassysigned off on a new report, concludingTimilakhad died ofSudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

"I made an error in judgement," he told the court room andTimilak'semotional parents. "But it is my duty to correct it."

"I still think the cause of death is SIDS."

The jury will look to make a conclusive finding today, withrecommendations to preventsimilar deaths from happening in the future.