Dr. John Ruedy, dean of medicine at Dalhousie University and a member of the QE II's Board of Directors, learned of Morrison's predicament only a few hours before the arrest. Due processes were carried out in the institution to a certain point, and the Nova Scotia statute being what it is notifying the coroner wasn't a requirement. I don't think it was an excuse. He adds that many doctors believe Macneil should have reported Morrison to the medical board and that police should have been more discreet. To the police there's no difference between raiding a hospital and raiding a whorehouse.
Butt says hospitals risk losing public respect when they put privilege ahead of community interest.
I would ask doctors who are critical of Dr. Macneil how they expect institutions to obey the law. In Ontario, Chief Coroner Jim Young says hospitals shouldn't try to handle such cases internally for other reasons. They run into exactly the problems they did here. They discover that there is no solution. They can neither get unanimity nor can they bring closure.