Coroner's inquest to probe overdose death of UVic student

The British Columbia government is asking universities to implement more drug safety measures after a coroner's inquest was called into the overdose death of an 18-year-old University of Victoria (UVic) student, whose parents accused campus security and a 911 operator of failing to respond to help save her life.

The death of Sidney McIntyre-Starko in January has also prompted a review of policies for accessing naloxone — a drug that can reverse overdose effects — on post-secondary campuses.

B.C.'s minister of post-secondary education also said the province will be working with post-secondary institutions to roll out overdose prevention measures on campuses across B.C. this fall.

McIntyre-Starko, a first-year science student, suffered a cardiac arrest due to fentanyl poisoning in a UVic dorm room in the early evening of Jan. 23 and died in hospital five days later, according to an open letter dated May 15 from her parents, Dr. Caroline McIntyre and Kenton Starko.

Based on witness statements and 911 call recordings obtained via a freedom of information request, they claim "overwhelming failures" contributed to their daughter's death.

They claim campus security did not call 911 or administer the naloxone they were carrying to McIntyre-Starko, who had overdosed alongside two other students.

Another student impaired by fentanyl was the only one who dialled 911, according to the family's letter. Even then, the operator took 3½ minutes before asking the reason for the call, McIntyre-Starko's parents claim.

"They denied her the lifesaving care she needed until it was too late," wrote Kenton Starko and McIntyre, who is an emergency room physician. "Our daughter's death was preventable."

CBC News has contacted the parents for further comment.

In a statement to CBC on Monday, UVic said the campus security officers who attended McIntyre-Starko's overdose followed protocols and their first aid training and "made every effort ... to save Sidney's life."

"Although that day ended tragically, their efforts are commendable," said campus security director Jessica Maclean.

Campus security also helped save the life of another student who had overdosed that night, according to the statement.

B.C. Emergency Health Services said in a statement that they were working with McIntyre-Starko's family to help answer their questions in the aftermath of her death.

"The matter is now being reviewed through the Patient Care Quality Office at the request of the family," a spokesperson wrote. "We are in the process of completing that review and will provide updates to the family once it's complete."