A coroner's inquest has begun in Toronto to examine the 2020 death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet, who fell from a balcony while police were in her home. The hearing focuses on epilepsy awareness and first responder protocols.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
A coroner’s inquest into the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet began Tuesday in Toronto, more than six years after the 29-year-old woman fell from a high-rise balcony while police officers were inside her apartment. The hearing aims to examine how first responders interact with individuals experiencing medical crises, specifically those involving epilepsy.
The inquest heard that Korchinski-Paquet, a woman of Ukrainian, Black and Indigenous ancestry, had a long history of seizures due to epilepsy. According to an agreed narrative read at the inquest, her seizures were often followed by symptoms such as "confusion, irritability, physically and verbally abusive behaviour and episodic amnesia."
Dr. Julien Hébert, a neurologist specializing in epilepsy who reviewed Korchinski-Paquet’s records, testified that she showed patterns of behaviour consistent with postictal delirium or psychosis on several occasions. These are mental states that can occur after seizures. Postictal psychosis involves a disconnect from reality, while postictal delirium involves an altered state of awareness and confusion.
On the morning of May 27, 2020, Korchinski-Paquet experienced two seizures. Hours later, police were called to the apartment over a "rapidly developing and violent family disturbance that involved knives," coroner’s counsel said. Korchinski-Paquet herself made three of the five calls to police. A neurologist who listened to the recordings testified that she sounded distressed and repetitive, as though she could not remember her previous calls. Less than half an hour later, she fell from the 24th floor.
Inquest counsel Roger Shallow stated that the scope of the hearing includes how police and first responders are informed about epilepsy and how to ensure safety when a person’s behaviour may be influenced by postictal delirium. The inquest will not examine general mental health challenges, psychiatric care, or the previous investigations by police watchdogs.
"Today, we begin this inquest hoping to get answers, understand what happened and help ensure that people experiencing a crisis receive a safe and compassionate response from first responders," Korchinski-Paquet’s family said in a statement read to jurors.
Dr. Hébert suggested that a key recommendation could be increasing awareness of epilepsy and its potential effects. "The knowledge that seizures and epilepsy can lead to a state of postictal delirium or postictal psychosis has not permeated all sort of strata in the society," he said.
Ontario’s police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), previously investigated the case and cleared Toronto police of wrongdoing. The SIU found that Korchinski-Paquet fell while trying to move from her apartment balcony to an adjacent one.
Korchinski-Paquet’s mother, Claudette Clayton-Korchinski, told Global News that she called police during an argument between her daughter and son, asking officers to take Korchinski-Paquet to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). "It’s been a nightmare and I will never forgive myself for Regis losing her life," she said. "I will always blame myself because if I didn’t make that phone call, I believe my child would still be here."
The family filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit in 2022 against the provincial government, the City of Toronto, Toronto Community Housing Corporation, the head of Ontario’s police watchdog, and several police officers. The lawsuit alleges her relatives suffered severe emotional distress after being provided with "misleading information" at the time of her death.
The inquest highlights ongoing concerns about how law enforcement responds to individuals in medical distress. While the jury does not assign criminal responsibility, it may make recommendations to prevent similar deaths. However, the chief coroner’s office does not have the authority to impose these recommendations. Korchinski-Paquet’s parents and advocates have called for inquest recommendations to be binding and implemented within a reasonable timeframe.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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