Image: Sara Carlin
I'm finding it increasingly difficult to remain calm here.
I am totally confused by this inquest.
Sara's parents, Neil and Rhonda Carlin, requested this inquest because they both felt that GlaxoSmithKline's Paxil had a part to play in their daughter's suicide.
The Coroner's Court granted them an inquest, after initially turning them down. On appeal, the Carlin's won that right to have Sara's voice heard.
The inquest went on for the best part of two weeks. We heard apparent experts give opinions, Sara's family and friends, her prescribing doctor's.
It now appears that the jury cannot give reasons as to why Sara died. They can only determine how she died.
Isn't this something we already know?
It is abundantly clear, to me at least, that this inquest seems to have been orchestrated in such a way that has basically allowed Sara Carlin on to a stand - but with restrictions - in other words - you can tell us how you died but you cannot give us the reasons why you took a wire, wrapped it around your neck and hanged yourself.
Sorry to be blunt but in essence, after reading the Coroner's charge to the jury, it is obvious that they have been instructed in such a manner as to stifle the voice of Sara Carlin.
"We speak for the dead to protect the living" is the Coroners Court proud boast.
I cannot see any instance where any party connected to the Coroner's Court have actually spoken for Sara Carlin - in fact, quite the opposite.
They have invited her in to a court, put her on a stand, if you will - then misdirected. In other words, "We" are telling your story for you Sara, we are telling the jury about your drinking and substance abuse. We are telling the jury that you were so out of control that it couldn't have been Paxil.
So, why are they doing this?
Well, it's simple really.
If Sara Carlin killed herself because she was depressed, then there is no third party to blame.
If Sara killed herself as a result of substance abuse, then their is no third party to blame.
If, it was alcohol that made Sara kill herself, again, no third party to blame.
If, however, Paxil is implicated into the reasons why Sara Carlin killed herself, we have a number of people to blame.
Firstly, the manufacturer - GlaxoSmithKline
Secondly, the doctor's who prescribed Sara Paxil, Dr. Stanton and Dr. Benjamin.
Finally, the Canadian Medicines regulator, Health Canada.
Now, I know this inquest, or indeed any inquest, is not to determine who was to blame - I'm well aware of that but I feel the public need to know why and not how.
As far as I can see the Coroner's Court don't believe Sara killed herself as a result of taking Paxil, they made their mind up on that issue long before they 'offered' Sara Carlin a voice at the inquest.
With Paxil out of the equation they could focus on Sara Carlin's teenage life, the life of your average teen not only in Ontario but other districts around the world.
I'm 46 this year. When I was Sara's age, I drank - sure I drank. As did my friends.
Did I drink so much that I could be deemed 'drunk'?
Absolutely.
So did my friends.
I have three children, all in their 20's.
Did they drink when they were 16, 17 and 18?
Of course they did.
Did I know?
No, I didn't - well, not while they were 16.
17 and 18, yes.
Sara Carlin came from a good family, she was raised well. Her schooling and achievements a testament to her parents.
Did the fact that she, like every other teenager I know, dabbled in drinking, make her a bad person?
Then, we have the testimony of an ex-boyfriend, whom went on record stating that he and Sara went on an 11 day drinking binge before her death.
Here's the rub:
My children have all been through their teens. I have met many of their cousins and friends.
Still, to this day, they brag about how many pints of lager they can drink, how many shorts [spirits] they can down and how pissed they were on such and such a night.
It's bravado in the most perverse sense... and we are all guilty of it.
How many times in your life have you said, 'Whoa, I drank a bucket load last night'?
As responsible adults seem to take up the majority of readership on this blog, we all know the evils of booze - why do we know?
Because we have ALL experienced it - okay there may be a few who will disagree but I'm sure the majority of those reading this will say too much booze is bad - We know because we have all been 16, 17 and 18.
We didn't kill ourselves as a result.
Neither did Sara Carlin.
An 11 day binge?
What exactly is a binge?
Well, according to my doctor, 6 cans of lager is binge drinking.
I can just imagine teenagers accepting that 6 cans of lager can be deemed as binge drinking - 6 cans of lager to teenagers is merely a mouthwash!
I am speaking through experience and not saying that every single teenager is like this but there are many who are.
It's a cultural thing, same as rock n' roll was in the 50's, same as recreational drugs was in the 60's.
Are we so blind that we cannot see that nothing has changed from our days of youth?
Sara Carlin was your teenage daughter, she was your teenage son. She was popular and because of her popularity was invited to parties.
Are we to blame Sara Carlin for acting in a way that your average teenager performs almost every weekend?
Now... throw Paxil into the mix.
Have GlaxoSmithKline ever carried out any systematic studies with regard to digesting Paxil and alcohol?
Do they know the implications of mixing the two?
A simple, 'Do not take alcohol with your medication' warning on the patient information leaflet is not good enough - particularly when no study has ever been carried out to determine what happens if you mix Paxil with alcohol.
Here we have a prescription drug called Paxil, it's called Seroxat in the UK, Aropax in Australia - there are reasons for the brand name change - Terrence Young wrote about this in his book, Death By Prescription, he also touched on this when giving evidence at Sara's inquest - I have also wrote briefly about it in my book.
The orchestration of Sara Carlin's inquest is so evident that those responsible should be utterly ashamed of themselves for suppressing causation.
Put 12 teenagers in a room full of hidden camera's, just 12 random teenagers.
Put alcohol in the room and watch.
Hey, we have all seen what happens when alcohol is introduced into TV's Big Brother house.
Now think about this.
Tell those 12 teenagers to take Paxil for the duration of their stay in the house.
Can we say, hand on heart, that there would be no difference?
Now, take the Paxil off them - will they crave so much for another 'hit' that they will substitute that craving with a substance that is easily obtainable, for example booze?
To rule out Paxil as a possible cause, as the Coroner's Court has from day one of Sara Carlin's inquest is absurd. To use Sara's lifestyle in such a manner that paints her as some out of control juvenile delinquent is serving only one purpose. Protect the name of those responsible for prescribing it, regulating it and manufacturing it!
End of.
The Coroner's charge to the jury reads like a complicated instruction manual. I will upload segments of it later today. It's an instruction to 5 lay persons that, as far as I can ascertain, has been orchestrated in such a way that has gagged not only Sara Carlin's voice but has restricted 5 lay persons in getting to the bottom of why she killed herself.
We know how - we want to know why!
Therefore, they, the jury, cannot serve the interest of the public with such restrictions placed on them.
You can read more about the Sara Carlin Vs Glaxo & Friends Inquest at the following links:
Sara Carlin Inquest – Latest
Sara Carlin Inquest – Failure of Oakville Medical Profession
Sara Carlin – ‘Death by Paxil’ Inquest – The ‘Expert’
Sara Carlin Inquest – Coroner’s Witness In U-Turn… And That Man Shaffer!
SARA CARLIN Ontario, Canada
Coroner’s Inquest – Glaxo & Friends Vs The Carlin Family
Sara Carlin Inquest – Local MP Slams GlaxoSmithKline
SARA CARLIN PAXIL INQUEST VIDEO FOOTAGE
SARA CARLIN PAXIL INQUEST GLOBAL TV NEWS
SARA CARLIN INQUEST - What The Jury Should Know
Sara Carlin Inquest - "Paxil likely played important role in teen's suicide"
Sara Carlin Inquest - The Eli Lilly 'Links' & Today's Recommendations.
**Exclusive - Sara Carlin Inquest: The Bias Of Coroner's Counsel, Michael Blain & Coroner, Bert Lauwers?
On May 6, 2007, Sara Carlin, a beautiful 18-year-old girl with everything to live for, grabbed a piece of electrical wiring, fashioned a crude noose and hanged herself in the basement of her parents house while under the influence of the antidepressant drug Paxil (Seroxat in the UK). Paxil/Seroxat is an antidepressant documented by international drug regulatory agencies as causing worsening depression and suicide particularly in children and young adults.
Please help inform others of the risks of these drugs. Forward this video to everyone you know.
RIP Sara Alison Carlin
Fid
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'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
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