HALIFAX — Family members of two women who died this year in a Nova Scotia prison say they weren't informed of their loved ones' deteriorating health and in one case still don't know the cause of death.
Marion Park said during a news conference today that almost four months after her 38-year-old sister Veronica Park died on April 24 at the Nova Institution, the family hasn't been given details by Correctional Service Canada on what caused her to die in a Truro hospital.
She says she was upset to hear from an access to information official recently that a formal investigation into Veronica's death was only started by the federal prison on Aug. 17.
The sister said she also wants to know why family members weren't told of Veronica's severe health issues until she was dying.
The twin brother of 22-year-old Camille Strickland-Murphy, whose obituary says she died of a suicide on July 28 at the Nova Institution, said in an interview he didn't receive any information from staff about two prior self-harm attempts by his sister.
Keir Strickland-Murphy says families should have received information so that they could contact their loved ones and advocate for their treatment.
The Correctional Service of Canada says in an email that privacy issues prevent it from discussing individual cases.
