THE HONOURABLE SUSAN LANG AND THE MOTHERISK REVIEW

From the late 1990’s to April 2015, the Motherisk Drug Testing Laboratory at the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children held itself out as a leader in the field of hair testing for drug and alcohol abuse. Children’s Aid Societies and the Courts believed that the reports generated by Motherisk provided adequate and reliable expert opinion on this issue. So did many lawyers.

The Report of the Motherisk Hair Analysis Independent Review released on December 15, 2015 concluded that the opinions and the reports generated were neither “adequate nor reliable.”

How did we all get it wrong?

The Honourable Susan Lang, who headed the Review, has agreed to present her findings and will help to answer this important question. Expect to hear:
• a short history of the laboratory;
• some information about the “science” involved;
• the difference between a “forensic” and a “clinical” laboratory;
• some suggestions on how to assess and challenge expert opinions and evidence in the future.

This is a cautionary tale you really should not miss!

Where: 311 Jarvis Street
When: Monday, May 2, 2016
From: 4:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Click here to download the flyer!