Seroxat Sara Carlin - Inquest jury will release findings Monday

The five-member jury in the Sara Carlin inquest will release its findings on Monday morning, according to a representative from the Ontario Coroner's Office.

At that time, the jury is expected to list the cause of Sara Carlin's death and any recommendations it has to prevent similar deaths in the future.

Sara, 18, an Oakville resident and graduate of St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Secondary School, hanged herself in her parents' basement on Sunday, May 6, 2007.

For more than a year before her death, Sara had been taking Paxil, an anti-depressant, which Health Canada has warned can increase the risk of suicidal events in children and adolescents under 18.

The Coroner's inquest heard testimony from more than 30 witnesses over a two-week period in an effort to determine the circumstances surrounding Sara's death, what role Paxil may have had, and what can be done to prevent similar deaths in the future.

During the inquest, the Carlin family's lawyer Gary Will attempted to make the case that Paxil and its numerous possible side effects were responsible for driving Sara to kill herself.

Lawyers representing Paxil manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline, three doctors associated with treating Sara, and the Coroner's counsel introduced alternate theories suggesting Sara's death was a result of pre-existing depression and drug and alcohol abuse.

The jury was given a total of more than 40 recommendations from the Coroner's counsel and the Carlin family to consider.

http://www.insidehalton.com/news/article/838811--inquest-jury-will-release-findings-monday