Fevers put boy at risk foster death inquest told

A boy who died in foster care from a chest infection had an underlying condition that, according to his file information, put him at risk if he developed a fever, a coroner's inquest has heard.

The inquest learned Wednesday that the three-year-old, whose name can not be published, had heart surgery as a baby and a note was attached to his file that, while he was healthy, if he developed a fever it could be dangerous.

The child's foster parents, whose identities are also protected by a publication ban, testified Tuesday that the boy was ill and running a fever the week before he died. The boy was found dead in his crib Dec. 17, 2009.

He was staying in a foster home about 30 kilometres west of Regina where there were six children, including three foster children and three who were adopted.

The inquest also heard from social services case workers that the foster home was cluttered and generally dirty. The workers said the cleanliness of the home was raised with the foster parents on several occasions in the months prior to the boy's death.

In earlier testimony, a forensic pathologist said the boy died of pneumonia in both lungs that spread to his chest cavity.

The inquest can make findings on how the child died, but cannot assign blame. The jury can also make recommendations on how to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.