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‘He just didn’t deserve it’: N.S. man sues province, health authority over son’s death in custody

An Annapolis Valley man has filed a lawsuit against Nova Scotia’s attorney general and the provincial health authority, claiming his son died...

‘He just didn’t deserve it’: N.S. man sues province, health authority over son’s death in custody
‘He just didn’t deserve it’: N.S. man sues province, health authority over son’s death in custody
Photo: Canadian Newsroom Archive

An Annapolis Valley man has filed a lawsuit against Nova Scotia’s attorney general and the provincial health authority, claiming his son died of an illness while in provincial custody earlier this year, and that the death was not warranted by the circumstances.

The lawsuit alleges negligence and seeks accountability for the death of the unidentified son, who died in custody in the spring. The plaintiff, whose name is not disclosed in the brief, contends that the province and the health authority failed to provide adequate medical care and timely responses to his son’s health issues while the youth was under provincial custody.

Legal representation for the plaintiff is provided by PATH Legal, a non-profit law firm, with Emma Halpern identified as co-founder and legal director. The filing notes the plaintiff’s belief that the death could have been prevented with proper medical attention and that the state bears responsibility for ensuring the welfare of youths in custody.

The defendants have not publicly commented in detail on the case as proceedings progress, and no specific medical diagnoses or treatment details are disclosed in the filing. The action adds to ongoing debates over the treatment of individuals in custody and the readiness of provincial systems to respond to medical emergencies within detention settings.

Officials overseeing provincial health and justice services are expected to review the complaint as the legal process unfolds. No court date has been announced yet, and outcomes remain uncertain as the case proceeds through the appropriate judicial channels.

This development comes amid broader scrutiny of custody conditions and health care oversight in Nova Scotia, highlighting concerns raised by families and advocacy groups about the adequacy of medical care provided to individuals in state custody. The lawsuit seeks damages and accountability, emphasizing the plaintiff’s assertion that his son “just didn’t deserve” to die and that greater safeguards should exist to protect vulnerable individuals in custody.

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