Doctor in charge of Faqiri's care in jail defends decision not to send him to hospital amid 'crisis'

The doctor overseeing Soleiman Faqiri's care before his death at an Ontario jail is defending his decision not to send the 30-year-old man to hospital even as he acknowledged Faqiri was in "acute psychiatric crisis" and deteriorating day by day.

Dr. Brent McMillan spoke publicly for the first time about Faqiri's case at the inquest into his death Wednesday, saying his priority was to make sure Faqiri got the medication he needed. 

Asked if Faqiri was indeed taking those medications, McMillan said it was "hit and miss."

A person in Faqiri's condition, were they sent to hospital, would normally receive an anti-psychotic injection before being sent back to jail, McMillan said. Beyond that, he said, Faqiri would require the use of a specialized tactical intervention team, which he believed would only make matters worse.

"To do this to this man would cause harm, and for anyone to suggest otherwise, you have no idea what you're talking about, I'm afraid," McMillan said.

"Sending in a group of large men dressed in camo and shields ... that's going to frighten this man."

LISTEN | The latest on the inquest into the death of Soleiman Faqiri on The Current: 

As for whether he broached the topic of voluntarily going to hospital with Faqiri, McMillan said he couldn't recall.

Jurors heard that McMillan was the only physician on contract with the jail in December 2016, when Faqiri was detained there, and typically saw 35 to 45 patients per day.

McMillan first became aware Faqiri was in crisis on Dec. 7, two days into his stay at the Central East Correctional Centre. Based on the information available, he prescribed a moderate dose of an anti-psychotic medication and referred Faqiri to the jail's psychiatrist.

That appointment was booked for Dec. 10. Jurors have heard the psychiatrist was on vacation at the the time, unbeknownst to McMillan. At no point during his stay was Faqiri seen by a psychiatrist or sent to a hospital.

McMillan saw Faqiri in person on Dec. 9, noting in his records Faqiri was behaving bizarrely, babbling, refusing to put on clothes, and his room was smelling strongly of urine. McMillan noted Faqiri might have needed to be sent to hospital on what's known as a Form 1 for an involuntary psychiatric hold, but decided against it that day.

WATCH | Jail guard filmed Faqiri to raise awarness about his condition:

That decision, jurors heard, was based on his experience of patients quickly being sent back from hospital, and because Faqiri was scheduled to see the jail's psychiatrist the following day. On a typical day, McMillan said, there might four to eight people like Faqiri at the jail, and he was concerned about overwhelming the hospital.