One would imagine the cause of death for Elijah McClain is cut and dry; especially considering two paramedics have been convicted of negligent homocide in connection with Mr. McClain’s death.
However, when one takes a deeper dive into the case against Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec, it becomes obvious the original determination for cause of death, undetermined, was the appropriate determination.
One defense expert witness, a forensic pathologist from Michigan, said that McClain died from aspiration from inhaling his own vomit on the scene with officers (Sherry, 2023). Another defense expert witness, Dr. Sri Sundaram, a local cardiologist, said he believed McClain died from a cardiac event.
McClain’s official cause of death was changed by the very person who conducted his autopsy, forensic pathologist Dr. Steven Cina. Cina’s initial report called McClain’s death “undetermined” but Cina changed the cause of death during the grand jury investigation, and told jurors during trial he thought that ketamine was ultimately responsible for McClain’s death after McClain violently struggled with police officers for more than 15 minutes (Sherry, 2023).
There are many question that arise from Dr. Cina’s amended autopsy report. The report itself was changed during a grand jury investigation and nearly two years after the original autopsy was conducted. Moreover, the language Mr. Cina used is very subjective in nature and has been challenged by a forensic pathologist and a cardiologist. Why, then, is the word of a doctor who is changing his report with no additional medical information weighed more heavily than doctors who came to distinctly different conclusions with the same information. Moreover, why is the alteration in the cause of death given any credence whatsoever, considering Dr. Cina reiterates in the amended autopsy report the most reasonable cause of death is not ketamine toxicity, rather, undetermined?
This case has not yet gone to sentencing. This case should have never progressed as far as it has. Regardless, the more one looks into this case, the more it appears to be a political prosecution on the part of the district attorney.
To hear more about the Elijah McClain case, listen to this podcast where Paramedic Graham Judd and Dr. Travis Yates discuss more of the details surrounding Mr. McClain’s death and the prosecution of Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec.
You may also read more about this case by clicking here.
Reference: Sherry, A. (2023, December 19). In trial for death of Elijah McClain, defense attorneys argue that paramedics followed protocol. Colorado Public Radio. https://www.cpr.org/2023/12/19/in-trial-for-death-of-elijah-mcclain-defense-attorneys-argue-that-paramedics-followed-protocol/
