TORONTO - Ontario politicians will create a committee to examine the dangers of head injuries after the death of Rowan Stringer, an Ottawa teenager who lost her life after suffering multiple concussions from playing rugby.
A coroner's jury last June made 49 recommendations after investigating the 2013 death of Stringer, who died at age 17 of "second impact syndrome" caused by multiple concussions.
Progressive Conservative Lisa MacLeod secured all-party support for Rowan's Law to create an advisory committee to examine how to implement the recommendations from the coroner's inquest.
MacLeod also lined up medical professionals and experts in the field of head injuries to speak in favour of the motion, and said parents, coaches and young people must be taught to recognize the signs and know the dangers of concussions.
She says people across the country have expressed interest in Rowan's Law because of the growing knowledge and concerns about the dangers of concussions, especially among young people.
The medical experts agreed attitudes are changing, and say professional athletes must lead by example and not try to "play through" a head injury so younger people learn it's important to protect themselves.
