Testimony Supports Questions By Coroner They Should Be Posed Delicately, Health Department Investigator Says

Coroners sometimes need to ask grieving families questions about drugs, alcohol and sexual contact, a health department investigator testified Wednesday at Dexter Amend’s disciplinary hearing.

Investigator Thomas Heafey, a former deputy coroner, testified Wednesday in Spokane before a panel of the state Medical Quality Assurance Commission.

Testimony heard by the five-member panel defended Amend, Spokane County’s coroner, who could lose his medical license over charges of unprofessional conduct.

Heafey said it’s appropriate for a coroner to ask families sensitive questions to try to determine why somebody died. But he said those questions should be posed delicately.

Heafey, who investigated charges against Amend for at least six months, said he was primarily looking into how Amend asked the questions because of grieving families’ concerns.

The investigator recalled dealing with families as a Spokane County deputy coroner for six months in 1986 and 1987. “The questions had to be asked with sensitivity and empathy, and a realization of where the family was at the time,” he said.

During questioning, Heafey said he’d never asked any families about sodomy or masturbation. Amend admits asking different families about both subjects but says the questions were relevant.

Attorney Hugh Lackie, representing Amend, called eight witnesses Wednesday, primarily to defend Amend’s character as a doctor.

The 77-year-old retired urologist could lose his medical license for his conduct in the death investigations of Rachel Carver, Kendra Grantham, Mario Lozada and Jeffrey Himes.

Amend faces charges of moral turpitude - conduct that reflects poorly on the medical community and demeans the profession in the eyes of the public.

The panel is expected to begin deliberating Amend’s fate today, after both sides finish presenting testimony. The panel has up to 90 days to issue its decision, which won’t affect Amend’s position as elected coroner.

Lackie tried to prove that the charges against Amend were politically motivated because of comments he made about homosexuality.

The state, represented at the hearing by Assistant Attorney General David Hankins, maintains its investigation was sparked by Amend’s public announcement that 9-year-old Rachel Carver was sodomized.

Amend spoke to the news media about the girl’s death before the autopsy was finished, saying she was sodomized throughout her life and that homosexuals ruined her life.

On Wednesday, Scott Carver wept when he testified about his daughter’s suffering. Carver, who didn’t have custody of Rachel, said he gave Amend permission to say publicly that his daughter was possibly abused sexually.

An autopsy wasn’t conclusive.

Carver said he suspected his daughter was sexually abused. He also defended Amend and said his probing questions weren’t offensive because they were necessary.

“He asked if I was involved in any homosexual acts involving Rachel, involving (another daughter), involving any relation of mine,” Carver said.

Amend questioned Carver the day after the girl’s body was found in a cardboard box and her uncle was arrested.

In response to questions by Hankins, Carver said Wednesday that he had no idea that her mother would be upset and embarrassed by Amend’s statements.

Lackie also asked witnesses about Amend’s conduct as a doctor.

In all of Amend’s years as a practicing doctor, a complaint was never filed with the state health department, according to state records.

Three people from Spokane’s Union Gospel Mission said Amend was practically a godsend. If Amend lost his medical license, it would mean the end of his volunteer work as a doctor at the street mission.

Executive Director Phil Altmeyer said the mission has had difficulties finding volunteer doctors.

Five years ago, Amend stepped up, volunteering most of his Wednesday afternoons. Since then, he’s seen thousands of patients with no complaints, Altmeyer said.

One other doctor helps out at the mission, but Amend carries the bulk of the duties, hunting for prescription drug donations, handling a variety of illnesses and examining patients.

“He’s a man that has sacrificed a tremendous amount of time,” Altmeyer said.

George Eller, a former homeless man who now works part-time at the mission, said Amend inspired him to change his negative opinion about doctors.

“He’s very kind, compassionate,” Eller said. “He and I trade Bible verses, things of that nature. He takes time with us.”

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