A Montreal naturopath has been acquitted of manslaughter and criminal negligence in the death of an 84-year-old man who was her client.
Mitra Javanmardi was acquitted Wednesday morning of charges relating to the 2008 death of Roger Matern.
Matern died in June of that year, after visiting Javanmardi’s Westmount clinic for treatment of heart problems. He was 84.
During his visit, Javanmardi administered an injection of magnesium, after which Matern started to feel ill. At the time, Javanmardi said Matern's reaction was probably due to the fact that he was hungry and suggested he drink a smoothie.
He was taken to a local hospital hours later, and he died the next day.
Javanmardi has been fined by The College of Physicians on three separate occasions in the past for practising without a licence, including administering injections. In Quebec, only doctors and nurses can legally administer injections.
The judge concluded Wednesday, that even though Javanmardi was illegally administering injections, she followed guidelines for naturopaths that are recognized in Ontario, CTV Montreal’s Stephane Giroux reported from the courthouse.
The judge ruled that Javanmardi acted with due diligence and therefore could not be found guilty of manslaughter.
Javanmardi's lawyer said she hopes the ruling marks the end of this "nightmare" for all parties.
"This case has been a very long and sad nightmare for everyone involved," she said. "We are hopeful that this judgment will put an end to this nightmare."
Members of Matern's family at the courthouse were devastated by the news.
“My father died 16 hours after leaving her office," daughter Gabrielle Matern said. "(Javanmardi) performed illegal acts, and how she can be totally acquitted, we just don't understand."
The Crown said it will consider appealing the verdict.
With files from CTV Montreal's Stephane Giroux
