Overview
- The court issued a direct witness summons to doula Emily Lal after she refused to provide a statement on self-incrimination grounds.
- Coroner Therese McCarthy said Lal can give evidence under a certificate that prevents her testimony being used against her in another case.
- If Lal keeps objecting, the court will hear requests to excuse her in May before the inquest scheduled for June 15–19.
- The inquest will probe whether earlier medical care might have changed the outcome, why a home birth was chosen, and how to better reach people who distrust hospital care.
- Investigators have statements from the medical examiner, clinicians, and family, while reports from the Health Complaints Commissioner and independent experts are pending, and Lal remains under an interim services ban until April 7.